The State of US Consumer Debt — 2026 Report
US consumer debt 2026 in one place: 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 We do not cite affiliate partners or other review sites as data sources.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 October 2026.
US Consumer Debt 2026 by Category (Q2 2026)
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| Debt Type | Balance (Q2 2026) | Change vs. Q1 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgages | $13.117 trillion | -$74B |
| Auto Loans | $1.713 trillion | +$28B |
| Student Loans | $1.651 trillion | -$7B |
| Credit Cards | $1.263 trillion | +$21B |
| HELOC | $459 billion | +$13B |
| Other Consumer Debt | $568 billion | +$6B |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, Q2 2026
Delinquency & Financial Distress
| Indicator | Q2 2026 |
|---|---|
| Aggregate delinquency (any stage) | 4.7% of outstanding debt |
| Credit card flow into serious delinquency (90+ days) | 6.97% annualized |
| Mortgage serious delinquency transition | 1.52% annualized |
| Student loan 90+ day delinquency | 10.6% of balances |
| Consumers with a third-party collection account | 4.9% |
| New foreclosures (individuals) | ~55,000 |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Q2 2026 Household Debt and Credit Report
Credit Card Debt Deep Dive
Credit card balances rose by $21 billion to $1.26 trillion in Q2 2026, $54 billion more than a year earlier. The average APR on card accounts charged interest was 22.15% in Q2 2026, up from 21.52% in Q1, according to the Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit release. 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 $1.65 trillion (Q2 2026), with the average federal borrower carrying $39,633. Delinquency rose to 10.6% of balances 90+ days past due in Q2 2026, up from 10.3% in Q1, 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 fell by $74 billion to $13.12 trillion in Q2 2026, with $505 billion in new mortgage debt originated during the quarter. Mortgage delinquency remains low by historical standards, but it is rising: 1.52% of mortgage balances transitioned into serious delinquency (annualized) in Q2 2026, up from 1.29% a year earlier. About 55,000 people had a new foreclosure added to their credit reports in the quarter.Consumer Debt in Canada
Canadian households carried C$3,280.9 billion (roughly C$3.28 trillion, seasonally adjusted) in credit market debt as of Q2 2026, according to Statistics Canada. The debt-to-disposable-income ratio eased to 176.4% from 178.6% as income grew faster than debt — Canadian households owe roughly $1.76 for every dollar of disposable income. The debt service ratio (principal and interest as a share of income) is 14.52%. If you’re comparing debt relief or consolidation options across the border, see our Canada debt consolidation guide.Free Toolkit
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Sources & Methodology
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York — Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, Q2 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
- Federal Reserve Board — G.19 Consumer Credit release (credit card interest rates)
- Statistics Canada — National Balance Sheet and Financial Flow Accounts, Q2 2026 (September 11, 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: October 2026. Next scheduled update: following the Q3 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