Americans max out cards, nearly 1 in 8 people are behind the payments, suddenly feels like 2008 all over again

Credit card delinquencies highest in 14 years, unpaid balances 90+ days, consumer spending under threat.
Once the plastic is maxed, how do people buy anything?


According to Money Metals, “Serious delinquencies… rose to 2.8 percent of total debt, a 52 percent increase year-on-year.” https://www.moneymetals.com/news/2025/08/26/economic-stress-credit-card-delinquencies-are-on-the-rise-even-among-those-with-prime-credit-004294 Subprime accounts over 90 days delinquent are up 109%. Even prime borrowers — the supposedly safe ones — are falling behind. A 47% spike in late payments among top-tier credit holders. The contagion isn’t isolated. It’s systemic.