Findings from Experian’s latest State of the Automotive Finance Market analysis showed the average loan term for a new vehicle jumped to an all-time high of 65 months in Q4 2012, up from 63 months in Q4 2011. More consumers also are opting for leases, with the lease share of new auto financing increasing to 24.79 percent, up from 10.45 percent in Q4 2011.

When outsourcing consumer data to vendors, here are a few outsourcing practices companies should follow to safeguard the information.

The most recent release of the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices showed national credit default rates decreased in February. The national composite* moved from 1.63 percent in January to 1.55 percent in February. First mortgage and bankcard default rates followed a similar pattern. These trends are consistent with other economic news, such as improvements in employment and continuing gains in housing.