Q4 2025 student loans transitioning to 90+ days delinquent surged to +14%, a level never seen before in history. pic.twitter.com/OIBZin9gx1
— Financelot (@FinanceLancelot) February 10, 2026
CREDIT CARD STRESS IS SURGING: 12.7% OF CREDIT CARD LOANS ARE NOW 90+ DAYS DELINQUENT, THE SECOND-HIGHEST LEVEL EVER, SURPASSED ONLY DURING THE AFTERMATH OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS
— First Squawk (@FirstSquawk) February 11, 2026
Credit card debt hits record $1.28 trillion.
Debt balances continue to rise, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The latest quarterly report on household debt and credit shows that total household debt increased by $191 billion, or 1%, in the fourth quarter of 2025, to a new high of $18.8 trillion.
Notably, credit card balances rose by $44 billion in the fourth quarter to a record high of $1.28 trillion; mortgage balances grew by $98 billion, totaling $13.17 trillion; and auto loan balances increased by $12 billion, totaling $1.67 trillion at the end of 2025.
Delinquency rates also saw a steep increase in the fourth quarter, with 4.8% of outstanding debt in some stage of delinquency, driven by defaults among younger and lower-income borrowers and further evidence of a bifurcated, or “K-shaped,” economy.
Household Debts, Delinquencies, and Bankruptcies Remain Elevated in Q4 2025
Despite record incomes, Americans continue to struggle with rising debt burdens and delinquencies, particularly in student loans.
Total household debt in the U.S. rose by 1.05% or $195 billion in Q4 2025 to reach $18.8 trillion, according to data from the New York Fed. While the debt-to-disposable income ratio edged up to 81.2%, it remains below the pre-financial crisis peak. However, delinquency rates spiked, particularly for student loans, as borrowers came out of pandemic-era forbearance programs. Foreclosures and bankruptcies also showed signs of creeping up from historically low levels.
NYFed quarterly household credit report is out: pic.twitter.com/PIVE1339k0
— 471TO (@TOzgokmen) February 10, 2026