New credit card data shows Americans still struggling

A recent report shows that credit card charge-offs have dropped a bit from their highs, but delinquencies -- that is, payments more than 30 days overdue - are still on the rise.

This article from MSNBC says that spells continuing trouble for Americans' personal finances and our nation's still-shaky economic recovery.

While the drop in charge-offs -- meaning that the issuer writes off the amount owed as a loss -- was attributed to people funneling tax refunds into their credit card debt, the high and still rising level of unemployment triggered the growth in delinquent payments.