Consumers urged to add credit card debt to help economy

The U.S. economy is slowly recovering from the massive recession that had a severe negative impact, but now some experts believe the amelioration would be greatly aided if consumers took on more credit card debt.

Americans have been reticent to use their credit cards to make everyday purchases since the recession hit, and have instead focused on ways to reduce debt, according to a report from USA Today. But this tight-fisted approach to their finances has only slowed the nation's continued economic recovery.

Statistics from financial data tracking firm IHS Global Insight shows that the ratio of non-mortgage debt to household disposable income is at 20.7 percent, its lowest level in 15 years, the report said. In addition, the nation's collective credit card balances have slipped more than $180 billion since August 2008, when the recession really began to take hold.

Some consumers have also sought various methods of reducing credit card debt, such as debt consolidation, as an alternative to bankruptcy. Others choose to carry credit cards, but pay off their balances in full every month.