Credit card zero percent deals decline as Barclaycard and RBS pull offers before Christmas

A consumer group has reported a decline in zero percent credit card offers as Christmas approaches. The average duration for these deals has decreased from 312 days in early 2022 to 250 days now. Barclaycard and RBS have withdrawn their long-term zero percent offers, leaving Tesco Bank as the only provider with a 24-month deal. Interest rates on credit cards are also rising, with the average APR for these cards increasing from 21.9 percent in 2022 to 24.9 percent today. The maximum APR has reached 29.9 percent, up from 27.9 percent in late 2021. Fairer Finance advises consumers to carefully compare credit card options and consider repayment plans to avoid high costs after promotional periods end.