Are people defaulting on their credit cards?
Overall, 1.42% of debt was 90 days or more past due, up from just over 1% at the end of 2022. “Credit card and auto loan transitions into delinquency are still rising above pre-pandemic levels,” said Wilbert van der Klaauw, economic research advisor at the New York Fed.
People Are Falling Behind on Credit Card Bills and Auto Loans at an Alarming Rate. The rates of Americans behind on auto loan and credit card bills continue to rise — in fact, both are at the highest levels in more than 10 years. Rising delinquencies indicate that more people are in financial distress.
Since that point, the monthly delinquency rate and average credit card balance has been on the rise, aside from slight drops each spring due to income tax returns. Overall credit card delinquencies for January 2024 were 2.67%. We also see that delinquency rates lower as age demographics get higher.
All stages of credit card delinquency — 30, 60 and 90 days past due — rose during the fourth quarter of 2023. But the share of debt that was either 30 or 60 days past due rose to the highest level since 2012, when the Fed began tracking the data.
Credit card balances, which are now at $1.13 trillion outstanding, increased by $50 billion (4.6%). Auto loan balances increased by $12 billion, continuing the upward trajectory that has been in place since 2020Q2, and now stand at $1.61 trillion.
How many Americans are currently delinquent with their credit card payments? Just 3.10% of Americans' total outstanding credit card balances are currently at least 30 days delinquent.
The personal finance firm found that 49% of credit card users carry a balance from one month to the next. That's up a full 10 percentage points from 2021. Of those who revolve their balances, 58% — 56 million people — have been in debt for at least one year, according to Bankrate.
Although the unpaid debt will go on your credit report and have a negative impact on your score, the good news is that it won't last forever. After seven years, unpaid credit card debt falls off your credit report. The debt doesn't vanish completely, but it'll no longer impact your credit score.
Here's how the “seven-year rule” works: Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, federal law requires that delinquent debts drop off your credit report after a seven-year period since you stopped making payments.
With a total of $1.13 trillion in debt, credit card debt that moved into serious delinquency amounted to 6.4% in the fourth quarter, a 59% jump from just over 4% at the end of 2022, the New York Fed reported. The quarterly increase at an annualized pace was around 8.5%, New York Fed researchers said.
What is the average credit card balance in the United States?
The Federal Reserve study does not provide numbers for the average credit card balance per consumer. However, according to Transunion, this figure rose from $5,795 in January 2023 to $6,295 in January 2024.
U.S. credit card debt. The higher cost of everything from housing to high-tops to haircuts are a major culprit. Although inflation has moderated since it peaked in June 2022, Americans—particularly lower-income families—are relying more on credit cards to cope with the sticker shock.
Inflation and higher interest rates are contributing to rising credit card debt, resulting in more Americans struggling to pay down their credit card balances, according to Bankrate's senior industry analyst Ted Rossman.
What is the average credit card debt in the U.S.? Based on data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the U.S. Census Bureau (based on 2022 and 2021 data respectively), it can be calculated that each American household carries an average of $7,951 in credit card debt in a year.
Americans' credit card balances climbed to a new record high $1.13 trillion, according to data released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Credit card debt increased by $50 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023 alone, a 4.6% jump from the previous quarter.
Category 1 | Q4 2022 | Q4 2023 |
---|---|---|
Auto Loan Debt | 2.22% | 2.66% |
Credit Card Debt | 4.01% | 6.36% |
Other | 3.96% | 5.15% |
ALL | 1.03% | 1.42% |
$5,000 in credit card debt can be quite costly in the long run. That's especially the case if you only make minimum payments each month. However, you don't have to accept decades of credit card debt.
National Debt Relief is a legitimate company providing debt relief services. The company was founded in 2009 and is a member of the American Association for Debt Resolution (AADR). It's certified by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA), and is accredited by the BBB.
Age group | Average credit card debt |
---|---|
Millennials (26-41) | $5,649 |
Gen X (42-57) | $8,134 |
Baby boomers (58-76) | $6,245 |
Silent Generation (77 and older) | $3,316 |
About 28% of card users say they find it difficult to make the minimum payments on their credit cards and 14% say they've missed a payment this year. On average, Americans spend $1,506 on their credit cards each month, which translates to more than $18,000 a year.
What percentage of the population is debt free?
Around 23% of Americans are debt free, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve. That figure factors in every type of debt, from credit card balances and student loans to mortgages, car loans and more.
One major reason people pay bills late: They simply forget.
Many people are late on their credit-card payments because they simply don't have the cash.
How many Capital One cards can I have? Cardholders can have up to five open personal credit card accounts, but this may vary based on the specific cards held and the cardholder's account standing.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule today to cut excessive credit card late fees by closing a loophole exploited by large card issuers. The rule will curb fees that cost American families more than $14 billion a year.
Most negative items should automatically fall off your credit reports seven years from the date of your first missed payment, at which point your credit score may start rising. But if you are otherwise using credit responsibly, your score may rebound to its starting point within three months to six years.
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