U.S. credit card balances rose by $22 billion, or 1.7%, to a record $1.29 trillion in the third quarter of 2026, according to New York Fed research. The figures cover total Q3 debt, rather than September credit figures alone. Total household debt, including mortgages and auto and student loans, also reached a record $19.1 trillion; researchers attributed the rise in card debt to persistent high prices straining household budgets. Serious credit card delinquency edged down to 6.9% but remained above the 5.2% pre-pandemic level, with rates at 10.3% in low-income neighborhoods versus 4.4% in wealthier areas.
US credit card balances rose by $22 billion as total household debt reached $19.1 trillion, driven by persistent cost-of-living pressures on consumers.
Read the full storyUS credit card balances reached a historic high of $1.29 trillion in Q3 2026, as households increasingly rely on revolving credit amid persistent inflation.
New York Fed data shows consumer debt reaching unprecedented levels as high prices strain household budgets.