Consumer installment debt increased in December.

Americans took on $6.95 billion more in debt than they paid off in December, a sizable gain that analysts said showed that consumers are still willing to make big-ticket purchases. The December increase reported by the Federal Reserve Board compared to a growth of $7.95 billion in November. Much of the decline in debt growth came from a slowdown in the increase of borrowing for auto loans. Auto loan debt increased by $2.07 billion in December, compared to a gain of $2.72 billion in November.