In the second quarter of 2026, the total credit card debt of U.S. households increased by $21 billion, reaching $1.26 trillion. This was reported by CNBC, citing a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
This figure is approaching last year's historical maximum of $1.28 trillion, having increased by 1.7% compared to the previous quarter.
The share of payments overdue by more than 90 days has sharply risen from 7.6% to 12.8%. Experts from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York note that this trend raises serious concerns as Americans are falling behind on payments at a rate not seen since the Great Recession.
Researchers state that the current situation reflects a K-shaped economy, where many households are forced to live paycheck to paycheck. Of the 175 million credit card holders in the U.S., about 60% have revolving debt, making them financially extremely vulnerable.
LendingTree's chief credit expert Matt Schulz emphasized that the increase in credit card and consumer loan debt clearly indicates that people are trying to stretch their budgets amid persistent inflation.
According to a separate report by Achieve, 55% of consumers use credit cards to pay for essential everyday expenses. Achieve co-founder Brad Stowen stated that short-term debts often start as a temporary solution, but due to high living costs and complex interest, they quickly become a long-term burden on family budgets.
