The eight U.S. credit card issuers shown in the graphic on page 9 collectively earned $24.94 billion in card profits (pretax net income) in 2018, up 14.2% from $21.85 billion for this same group in 2017. These issuers set aside a combined $28.00 billion at year-end for anticipated card loan losses. This was down 0.3% or $76 million from 2017. American Express’s Global Consumer Services and Global Commercial Services Groups had 2018 pretax net income of $6.61 billion, up 1.9% versus 2017. Provisions for losses for these groups combined grew 21.5% to $3.33 billion. JPMorgan Chase’s car...