All species of consumer credit increased steeply during the fourth quarter of 2011 and for the year as a whole, according to Federal Reserve Bank's numbers released this week. That reverses two years of debt-reduction.

In other news, an optimism index published by Investor's Business Daily improved 1.9 points for February.

In Europe, debt-reform talks in Greece continue, proving to be nail-biting for investors.

The Fed's borrowing figures showed that consumers reached for debt in all forms during all of 2011, but especially in the fourth quarter, when total debt rose 7.6 percent.

For the year overall, consumers borrowed 3.7 percent more. That reversed a move to reduce debt in 2009 and 2010.