New data reveals 40% of Americans cannot afford to pay their credit card balances each month.
Americans now owe more credit card debt than at any point in history. pic.twitter.com/H51zAZd99f
— FactPost (@factpostnews) March 18, 2026
A growing share of Americans are falling behind on their credit card payments, with new data showing nearly 40% of adults are unable to pay off their balances in full each month.
The figures, drawn from a March 2026 analysis by The Century Foundation using data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Reserve, highlight the extent of financial strain facing households during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The report estimates that about 111 million Americans are carrying month-to-month credit card debt, a sign that many are unable to cover routine expenses without borrowing.
At the same time, total credit card debt has surged to record levels, reaching roughly $1.27 trillion to $1.28 trillion by the end of 2025, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Same situation as 1990
$3 meal
With expensive oil….consumption is gone !!
Consumer credit data shows revolving credit continues to expand despite high interest rates, meaning households are still leaning on credit to stay afloat rather than paying down balances.
https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/
New York Fed data shows U.S. credit card balances remain at record levels above $1.2 trillion, with balances continuing to climb into 2025–2026.