Credit card interest rates edge up in past week

For balance transfer cards, which allow consumers to consolidate outstanding debt from one or more cards, and sometimes include a low introductory rate, the average annual percentage rate rose to 13.49 percent, from 13.45 percent last week.

For low interest cards, which have rates below the national average but are often offered only to customers with strong credit histories, the average APR edged up to 11.63 percent, from 11.61 percent.

For cash back cards, which feature cash back or other reward incentives and generally require a good to excellent credit rating for approval, the average APR climbed to 13.96 percent, from 13.90 percent.

Overall, the average APR charged for all variable rate cards tracked by Bankrate was steady at 11.32 percent.

Bankrate surveys the 10 largest banks and thrifts in the 10 largest markets in the U.S. to determine its averages.