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RALEIGH - North Carolinians are swiping their credit cards at a rate higher than almost every other state, and it's got nothing to do with holiday shopping. A TransUnion third quarter report shows the average person in our state carries $5,640 in credit card debt.

The good news is more people are making their payments. The national delinquency rate was down almost 25 percent from the same time last year.

So why does our state rank so high? At least one economist says it's got something to do with a high military presence.

"And military families, statistics show, are heavy users of credit cards, due to deployment of spouses, do to rather low incomes,” said NC State economist Mike Walden.

Walden says in general, Americans have done a better job of saving more, spending less, and reducing debt.

"But there's no question that debt, consumer debt, is the key factor in holding back this economic recovery."

"That's definitely alarming,” said Ken Long with Vision Credit Education, a non-profit that helps people get their finances back on track. “It doesn't really send a good message about our state, the health of our families."

Long says he's recently seen clients with up to $200,000 in credit card debt alone.

"Most people didn't expect to have such a deep recession. Most people didn't expect to lose their jobs when they did,” said Long. “And, you know, life happens, and sometimes you have to change your priorities."

He's seeing a trend of those priorities changing, as more work to reduce their dependence on plastic.

Alaska was the state with the highest average credit card debt. Iowa had the lowest.