With the recession increasingly in the rearview mirror, consumers across the U.S. are taking on more credit card debt, according to the latest data from Equifax. The company attributed the credit card surge, in part, to increased lending to subprime borrowers.

A graph accompanying this release is available at http://media.globenewswire.com/cache/23864/file/28436.pdf

Equifax's new National Consumer Trends Credit Report revealed that consumers in each of the nation's 25 largest metropolitan areas increased credit card debt in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the same period one year ago. Last year at this time, seven of the top 25 metro areas had experienced declines in credit card debt.

The rise in credit card debt is a positive step for the U.S. economy, as economists generally believe increased debt levels signal growing consumer confidence. Nationally, credit card debt levels rose from $586.8 trillion in the second quarter of 2013 to $604 trillion in the most recent quarter, a nearly 3 percent increase.

"It's encouraging that both the supply and demand of credit is rising across the country," said Trey Loughran, president of Equifax Personal Solutions. "It's important for consumers to have access to credit so that they can rebuild their credit portfolios in a disciplined manner and help the economy continue to grow."

Consumers in areas hardest hit by the recession showed some of the biggest gains in credit card debt. The Las Vegas, Orlando andMiami metro areas - all ravaged by the collapse of the housing industry - were among the top five markets for increased credit card debt. Joining them were Houston and Dallas, which escaped the recession largely unscathed and have consistently experienced increases in credit card and total consumer debt.

The smallest gains were reported in St. Louis, Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit, where economic recovery has been slower.

Equifax said the rise in credit card debt is due, in part, to lenders who are increasingly issuing credit cards to consumers with subprime credit scores. The company said that one out of every three new cards is issued to an individual with a subprime score, compared to one in four immediately following the recession.

Although the definition of a subprime borrower varies and has changed since the recession, Equifax said a credit score below 660 is generally considered to be in the subprime range. That group saw a 5.5 percent increase in credit card debt in the past year, according to Equifax.

Loughran said that both of these trends are encouraging. Lenders are showing they are comfortable putting credit cards in consumers' hands again, even those with battle scars from the financial crisis, and consumers are demonstrating that they are looking to rebuild financially but in a more responsible manner than prior to the recession. They are doing that, he added, by "taking out credit and showing they can pay on time."