Credit card debt in the United States has been growing at a fast pace between 2021 and 2024. In the third quarter of 2024, the overall amount of credit card debt reached its highest value throughout the timeline considered here. COVID-19 had a big impact on the indebtedness of Americans, as credit card debt decreased from 927 billion U.S. dollars in the last quarter of 2019 to 770 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2021. What portion of Americans use credit cards? A substantial portion of Americans had at least one credit card in 2024. That year, the penetration rate of credit cards in the United States was 67 percent. This number increased by nearly seven percentage points since 2014. The primary factors behind the high utilization of credit cards in the United States are a prevalent culture of convenience, a wide range of reward schemes, and consumer preferences for postponed payments. Which companies dominate the credit card issuing market? In 2023, the leading credit card issuers in the U.S. by volume were JPMorgan Chase & Co. and American Express. Both firms recorded transactions worth over one trillion U.S. dollars that year. Citi and Capital One were the next banks in that ranking, with the transactions made with their credit cards amounting to over half a trillion U.S. dollars that year. Those industry giants, along with other prominent brand names in the industry such as Bank of America, Synchrony Financial, Wells Fargo, and others, dominate the credit card market. Due to their extensive customer base, appealing rewards, and competitive offerings, they have gained a significant market share, making them the preferred choice for consumers.

The average consumer debt balance in the United States has peaked in 2023 at roughly 104,200 U.S. dollars. However, average consumer debt had decreased between 2010 and 2013, when it reached approximately 85,500 U.S. dollars. Here, consumer debt refers to student and car loans, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, and other types of debt.

The UK's average credit card debt per household grew by 151 British pounds between December 2021 and December 2022, the first increase since 2020. Standing at 2,229 British pounds at December 2022, the figure contrasts with the decline in 2020 – when the debt declined from 2,594 British pounds to 2,083 British pounds. That particular drop was likely a result of Covid-19's economic impact, and consumers trying to get rid of their credit card debt. The increase in 2022 may be caused by growing interest rates and the cost of living crisis beginning to take shape.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Loans: Credit Cards and Other Revolving Plans, All Commercial Banks (CCLACBW027SBOG) from 2000-06-28 to 2025-03-12 about revolving, credit cards, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, and USA.

Key information about United States Household Debt

• United States Household Debt reached 18,036.0 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with the reported number of 17,943.0 USD bn in the previous quarter
• US Household Debt: USD mn data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1999 to Dec 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 18,036.0 USD bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 4,540.0 USD bn in Mar 1999

Federal Reserve Board of New York provides quarterly Household Debt in USD. Household Debt includes Mortgages, Home Equity Revolving, Auto Loans, Bankcards, Student Loans and Others.


Further information about United States Household Debt

• In the latest reports, United States Household Debt accounted for 61.7 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Dec 2024
• Money Supply M2 in United States increased 21,533.8 USD bn YoY in Dec 2024
• United States Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 34.9 USD bn in Dec 2024
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.1 Months of Import in Dec 2024
• United States Domestic Credit reached 30,648.3 USD bn in Mar 2024, representing an drop of 0.3 % YoY

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks (DRCCLACBS) from Q1 1991 to Q4 2024 about credit cards, delinquencies, commercial, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

The average amount of non-mortgage debt held by consumers in the United States has been falling steadily during the past years, amounting to 21,800 U.S. dollars in 2023. While respondents had 38,000 U.S. dollars of debt in 2018, that volume decreased to 29,803 U.S. dollars in 2019, which constituted the largest year-over-year decrease.

What age groups are more indebted in the U.S.? The age group with the highest level of consumer debt in the U.S. was belonging to the Generation X with approximately 154,700 U.S. dollars of debt in 2022. The next generations with high consumer debt levels were baby boomers and millennials, whose debt levels were similar. In comparison, credit card debt is more equally distributed across all ages. There is an exception among people under 35 years old, who are significantly less burdened with credit card debt. However, most consumers expect to get rid of their debt in the short term.

College expenses as a source of debt Educational expenses were not among the leading sources of debt among consumers in the U.S. in 2022. Instead, they made up about ten percent of the total. However, around 39 percent of undergraduates from lower-income families had student loans, while over a fifth of undergraduates from higher-income families had student loans. Independently of how they cover these expenses, the confidence of students and parents about being able to pay these college costs was high in most cases.

Graph and download economic data for Commercial Bank Interest Rate on Credit Card Plans, Accounts Assessed Interest (TERMCBCCINTNS) from Nov 1994 to Nov 2024 about consumer credit, credit cards, loans, consumer, interest rate, banks, interest, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

The average credit card purchase value in the United Kingdom was less than 60 British pounds as of November 2024. This was slightly lower than in the same month of the previous year and also lower than in January 2023, when it reached an all-time high, with each individual credit card transaction averaging 63 British pounds. This contrasted with April 2020, when coronavirus measures caused the average credit card value to decline. However, the total credit card debt in the UK grew by four percent year-on-year.

Delinquency rates for credit cards picked up in 2024 in the United States, leading to the highest rates observed since 2008. This is according to a collection of one of the United States' federal banks across all commercial banks. The high delinquency rates were joined by the highest U.S. credit card charge-off rates since the Financial Crisis of 2008. Delinquency rates, or the share of credit card loans overdue a payment for more than 60 days, can sometimes lead into charge-off, or a writing off of the loan, after about six to 12 months. These figures on the share of credit card balances that are overdue developed significantly between 2021 and 2024: Delinquencies were at their lowest point in 2021 but increased to one of their highest points by 2024. This is reflected in the growing credit card debt in the United States, which reached an all-time high in 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Household Debt Service Payments as a Percent of Disposable Personal Income (TDSP) from Q1 1980 to Q4 2024 about disposable, payments, debt, personal income, percent, personal, households, services, income, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Charge-Off Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks (CORCCACBN) from Q1 1985 to Q4 2024 about charge-offs, credit cards, commercial, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Total credit card debt in the UK grew by 0.8 billion British pounds between October and November 2023, now reaching a similar level of debt as seen in early 2017. The annual growth rate of credit card debt stayed about the same in August 2023, reaching eight percent when compared to August 2022. The growth rate in 2023 has been relatively consistently since May, which may potentially be attributed to growing interest rates and the cost of living crisis.

Statistics on student debt, including the average debt at graduation, the percentage of graduates who owed large debt at graduation and the percentage of graduates with debt who had paid it off at the time of the interview, are presented by the province of study and the level of study. Estimates are available at five-year intervals.

In the first quarter of 2024, household debt in the United States amounted to over 71 percent of its GDP. It can be generally observed that U.S. households are more indebted by the end of the year than in any other quarter. The debt of households peaked in the last quarter of 2020, reaching the highest value since 2013. Debt to GDP ratio As it can be observed here, the household debt to GDP ratio decreased overall in the recent years. The steady growth of the gross domestic product in the United States could be a factor explaining this tendency. If the volume of debt grows at a slower pace than the GDP, the debt to GDP ratio would decrease. In addition to that, the overall value of mortgage debt in the U.S., which is the most significant component of the household debt, decreased from 2012 to the third quarter of 2014, but it has rebounded since then. Public debt in the U.S. Public debt in the United States, which is the amount of money borrowed by the government to finance budget deficits, has been increasing almost every single year. Not only that, but according to that forecast it is also expected to keep increasing during the coming years. The major holders of American government debt, as of December 2022, were Federal Reserve and government accounts and foreign and international holders. The ratio of national debt to GDP of the United States was higher than that of other major economies, but lower than that of Japan. Some of the lowest debt to GDP ratios were observed in Hong Kong SAR, Kuwait, and Turkmenistan.

Daily, weekly and monthly data showing seasonally adjusted and non-seasonally adjusted UK spending using debit and credit cards. These are official statistics in development. Source: CHAPS, Bank of England.

Key information about France Household Debt: % of GDP

• France household debt accounted for 74.2 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Dec 2023, compared with the ratio of 77.8 % in the previous year.
• France household debt to GDP ratio is updated yearly, available from Dec 1977 to Dec 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 81.0 % in Dec 2020 and a record low of 19.6 % in Dec 1977.

CEIC calculates annual Household Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Household Debt and annual Nominal GDP. The Banque de France provides Household Debt in EUR. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies provides Nominal GDP in EUR. Household Debt includes Sole Proprietorship.


Related information about France Household Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, France Household Debt reached 2,335.5 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Money Supply M2 in France increased 0.8 % YoY in Nov 2024.
• France Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 29.5 USD bn in Dec 2024.
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.5 Months of Import in Nov 2024.
• France Domestic Credit reached 5,416.5 USD bn in Oct 2024, representing an increased of 1.4 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 2.4 % in Dec 2021, compared with the ratio of 2.7 % in the previous year.

Debt financing (mortgage, line of credit, term loan, credit card) terms and conditions, average interest rates and average length of term for small and medium enterprises in 2020 by region, CMA level, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), demographics, age of business, employment size, rate of growth, etc.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Consumer Loans, All Commercial Banks (DRCLACBS) from Q1 1987 to Q4 2024 about delinquencies, commercial, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Debt service ratios, interest and obligated principal payments on debt, and related statistics for households, Canada.