Average US credit card debt per borrower up in the third quarter. (AP photo)

LOS ANGELES (AP) – An analysis of consumer-credit data shows that Americans are carrying more credit card debt and being less diligent about making payments on time.

Credit reporting agency TransUnion said Monday that the average credit card debt per borrower in the U.S. grew 4.9 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the rate of credit card payments at least 90 days overdue rose to 0.75 percent, up from 0.71 percent in the third quarter of last year.

While higher, the late payment rate is inching higher from historically low levels.

That suggests that most cardholders continue to prioritize their card payments over other financial obligations, such as their mortgage.

TransUnion forecasts that severe delinquency rates on cards will remain near current low levels in the fourth quarter.