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The State of US Consumer Debt — 2026 Report
A single, continuously updated reference for US (and Canadian) household debt — mortgage, auto, credit card, student loan, and medical debt, plus delinquency and distress indicators. Every figure below is sourced directly from a primary government or non-affiliate research source, never restated from another site.
This report is compiled and maintained by the DebtRoute research team from primary sources only — the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the U.S. Department of Education, the CFPB, Statistics Canada, and similar non-affiliate government and research bodies. We do not cite affiliate partners or other review sites as data sources. See our editorial research process for details.
Journalists and researchers: you’re welcome to cite any figure on this page with a link back to this report. We update it as new quarterly data is released — last updated July 2026.
US Household Debt by Category (Q1 2026)
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Total household debt rose just 0.1% quarter-over-quarter to $18.8 trillion — the smallest increase in several quarters, with mortgage and auto balances growing while credit card and student loan balances declined slightly.
| Debt Type | Balance (Q1 2026) | Change vs. Q4 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgages | $13.19 trillion | +$21B (all-time high) |
| Auto Loans | $1.69 trillion | +$18B (all-time high) |
| Student Loans | $1.66 trillion | -$6B |
| Credit Cards | $1.25 trillion | -$25B (seasonal) |
| HELOC | $446 billion | +$12B |
| Other Consumer Debt | $562 billion | -$2B |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, Q1 2026
Delinquency & Financial Distress
| Indicator | Q1 2026 |
|---|---|
| Aggregate delinquency (any stage) | 4.8% of outstanding debt |
| Credit card early delinquency transition | 8.6% annually |
| Mortgage serious delinquency transition | 1.5% annually |
| Student loan 90+ day delinquency | 10.3% of balances |
| Consumers with new third-party collections | 5.0% |
| New foreclosures (individuals) | ~59,000 |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Q1 2026 Household Debt and Credit Report
Credit Card Debt Deep Dive
Credit card balances stand at $1.25 trillion nationally as of Q1 2026 — a seasonal dip of $25 billion from the Q4 2025 holiday-spending peak, though balances remain near record levels year over year. For the full breakdown including historical trends and interest rate data, see our dedicated Credit Card Debt Statistics report and average balances by age group.
Student Loan Debt Deep Dive
Aggregate federal and private student loan debt totals $1.66 trillion, with the average federal borrower carrying $39,633. Delinquency has risen to 10.3% of balances as missed payments that went unreported during the pandemic-era pause continue to appear on credit files. July 2026 also marks the launch of the federal government’s new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) — see our guide on paying off student loans fast under the new rules, and our US vs. Canada refinancing comparison if you’re weighing private refinance options.
Medical Debt
Medical debt is measured differently depending on the source, which is why estimates vary widely: the Kaiser Family Foundation puts the broadest measure — any unpaid medical or dental bill — at roughly 41% of US adults, while the Urban Institute’s household-survey-based estimate is closer to 36%. The CFPB’s narrower credit-report measure, which only counts debt that has gone to collections, shows about 15 million Americans with medical debt on file — a figure that dropped sharply after 2024–2025 rule changes removed most medical collections under $500 from credit reports. Medical debt is not evenly distributed: KFF’s analysis found adults aged 50–64 report significant medical debt at roughly double the rate of adults 65 and older. See our Medical Debt Relief Guide for how to negotiate or reduce a medical bill.
Mortgage & Housing Debt
Mortgage balances reached an all-time high of $13.19 trillion in Q1 2026, with $530 billion in new mortgage debt originated during the quarter. Despite record balances, mortgage delinquency remains historically low — only 1.5% of mortgage balances transitioned into serious delinquency over the past year, though that rate has ticked up slightly from 1.4%.
Consumer Debt in Canada
Canadian households carried $3,253.4 billion (roughly CAD $3.25 trillion) in credit market debt as of Q1 2026, according to Statistics Canada. The debt-to-disposable-income ratio climbed to 179.6% — the sixth consecutive quarterly increase — meaning Canadian households owe roughly $1.80 for every dollar of income. The debt service ratio (payments as a share of income) sits at 14.75%. If you’re comparing debt relief or consolidation options across the border, see our Canada debt consolidation guide.
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Sources & Methodology
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York — Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, Q1 2026 (Center for Microeconomic Data, Consumer Credit Panel)
- U.S. Department of Education — Federal Student Aid Portfolio Summary, December 2025, and July 2026 repayment plan fact sheet
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — medical debt and credit report analysis
- Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) — national medical debt survey data
- Statistics Canada — National Balance Sheet and Financial Flow Accounts, Q1 2026
DebtRoute does not cite affiliate partners, lenders, or other review sites as data sources for this report. Figures reflect the most recent quarterly data available as of the last update date below and will shift as new quarterly reports are released.
Report last updated: July 2026. Next scheduled update: following the Q2 2026 Household Debt and Credit Report release.
Related DebtRoute Guides
- Credit Card Debt Statistics 2026 — Full Data Report
- Average Credit Card Debt by Age 2026
- Pay Off Student Loans Fast — 7 Strategies for 2026
- Student Loan Refinancing: US vs Canada Options
- Medical Debt Relief Guide 2026
- Best Debt Consolidation Loans Canada 2026
- US & Canada Debt Statistics — Complete Data