OK, I just sent this to NPR:

I linked this article at a site where we discuss politics and economics. and a well-informed person there stated that nowhere can he find anything to back up what this reporter is saying about the wealth of credit users. His opinion is that NPR is editorializing rather than reporting. He looked over the last several FICO surveys. There is one sentence in the FICO that says, "The balance increases are likely to be driven by higher spending among some consumers and smaller monthly payments from others." But that's it and there is certainly nothing there from which to extrapolate the wealth division.

I have always relied on NPR for accurate, fair reporting. Can you provide the source for the statement: "The FICO surveyors found that credit card debt is rising for two reasons. First, wealthier people are feeling more confident so they are spending more freely, which adds to their credit card balances.

And second, poorer people are feeling more squeezed so they can’t afford to pay off their balances in full." You may extrapolate these items but to say that the FICO surveyors found this is worrisome since it's not in their survey report.