finance
U.S. Household Debt Edges Up to $18.8 Trillion in Q1 2026, New York Fed Reports
Total U.S. household debt increased by $18 billion in the first quarter to $18.8 trillion, according to the New York Fed, with mortgage and auto loan balances rising while credit card debt fell seasonally. Delinquency rates matched their highest level since 2017, driven in part by student loan serious delinquencies reaching 10.3 percent.
May 12, 3:40 PM·1m read1 source
pymnts.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
U.S. 8 trillion, the New York Fed reported. 19 trillion while HELOC balances rose by $12 billion to $446 billion.
HELOC balances now stand $129 billion above the low reached in 2022Q1. Non-housing debt balances declined by $15 billion in Q1 2026. 66 trillion.
69 trillion while other non-housing balances decreased by $2 billion to $562 billion. Mortgage originations totaled $530 billion in Q1 2026. There were $182 billion in new auto loans appearing on credit reports during the quarter.
About 59,000 individuals had new foreclosures on their credit reports. 5 trillion.
8 percent in Q1 2026, matching the highest level reported since 2017. 8 percent. “Aggregate household debt levels rose slightly, with modest increases in most debt types offsetting a seasonal decline in credit card balances,” said Daniel Mangrum, Research Economist at the New York Fed.
6 percent in Q4 2025. 9 percent in Q1 2026. 5 million people defaulted on student loans between October 2025 and March 2026.
The share of student-loan balances past due increased to just over 10 percent. 5 years older than before the pandemic. Borrowers age 50 and older are now at higher risk of student loan default than younger borrowers.
Gen X borrowers including those age 50 to 61 have the highest average student-loan balance of any age group. Nearly 40 percent of defaulted student loan borrowers with auto loans are past due on those loans.
