Macro EconomyMedium•10 November 2026•
1 min read
US Credit Card Debt Hits Record $1.29 Trillion in Third Quarter
Key Facts
1US credit card balances rose by $22 billion to reach a record $1.29 trillion in the third quarter.
2Total US household debt, including mortgages and student/auto loans, reached a record $19.1 trillion.
3The rate of serious credit card delinquency edged down to 6.9%, though it remains above pre-pandemic levels.
US credit card balances increased by $22 billion to reach a record $1.29 trillion in the third quarter of 2026. Axios reported that total household debt, encompassing mortgages, auto loans, and student loans, also hit a new historic peak of $19.1 trillion.
The rate of serious credit card delinquency edged down slightly to 6.9%, though it remains above pre-pandemic levels. Financial strain is particularly evident in lower-income communities, where delinquency rates reached 10.3% as persistent cost-of-living pressures continue to impact consumer borrowing.