Credit card debt in the United States has been growing at a fast pace between 2021 and 2025. In the fourth 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 *** billion U.S. dollars in the last quarter of 2019 to *** 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 2025. That year, the penetration rate of credit cards in the United States was ** 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 2024, 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.

Total credit card debt in the UK grew by over ****billion British pounds between March and April 2025, now reaching a similar level of debt as seen in early 2020. The annual growth rate of credit card debt stayed about the same in April 2025, reaching *** percent when compared to aApril 2024. The growth rate in 2024 has been decreasing until 2025 where it started to increase again, which may potentially be attributed to growing interest rates and the cost of living crisis.

Debt Balance Credit Cards in the United States increased to 1.21 Trillion USD in the second quarter of 2025 from 1.18 Trillion USD in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States Debt Balance Credit Cards.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Loans: Credit Cards and Other Revolving Plans, All Commercial Banks (CCLACBW027SBOG) from 2000-06-28 to 2025-08-20 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

Commercial bank interest rates on credit card plans in the United States were over *** percent higher in early 2025 than in the same period in 2022. In February 2025, the interest amount on credit card plans amounted to ***** percent. Alongside this development, the overall amount of credit card debt in the U.S. reached an all-time high in Q4 2023. Credit cards are considered one of the most common ways to pay in the United States, so potential changes on credit card debt are closely tied to both the inflation figure and central bank interest rate of the country.

While interest rates in the United States declined ***** times by late 2024, average credit card interest rates did not immediately follow suit. This reveals itself when comparing the Federal Reserve interest rate against the APR, or annual percentage rates, of credit cards issued by commercial banks. The APR reached a record high in the country in 2024, likely adding to the growing credit card debt in the United States. This was below the APR of credit cards in a country like Brazil, however. It is expected that the credit card interest rates will continue to need time to catch up with the Fed interest rate.

Consumer Credit in the United States increased to 7.37 USD Billion in June from 5.13 USD Billion in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Consumer Credit Change - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks (DRCCLACBS) from Q1 1991 to Q2 2025 about credit cards, delinquencies, commercial, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

The average credit card purchase value in the United Kingdom was over ***British pounds as of May 2025. This was slightly lower than in the same month of the previous year and lower than in January 2023, when it reached an all-time high, with each individual credit card transaction averaging **** 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 in May 2025 grew almost six percent year-on-year.

Graph and download economic data for Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized (TOTALNS) from Jan 1943 to Jun 2025 about securitized, owned, consumer credit, loans, consumer, and USA.

Delinquency rates for credit cards picked up in 2025 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 ** days, can sometimes lead into charge-off, or a writing off 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 2025: Delinquencies were at their lowest point in 2021 but increased to one of their highest points by 2025. 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 Commercial Bank Interest Rate on Credit Card Plans, Accounts Assessed Interest (TERMCBCCINTNS) from Nov 1994 to May 2025 about credit cards, consumer credit, loans, consumer, banks, interest rate, depository institutions, interest, rate, and USA.

As of late October 2024, most of the outstanding consumer lending in the United Kingdom (UK) were overdrafts, as well as loans and advances other than credit cards. Consumer credit peaked in February 2020, but dropped sharply two months later before slowly starting to recover again. The category other, which includes overdrafts and other loans and advances made up most of the outstanding credit. Meanwhile, credit cards amounted to approximately a third of the outstanding consumer loans. Nevertheless, credit cards made up most of the new monthly consumer lending in the UK. A likely reason for this discrepancy is that credit card debt tends to be paid in a shorter term than other types of credit.

Key information about Argentina Household Debt

• Argentina Household Debt reached 28.4 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with the reported number of 26.2 USD bn in the previous month
• Argentina Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Dec 1999 to Dec 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 46.8 USD bn in Apr 2018 and a record low of 5.0 USD bn in Sep 2002

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. The Central Bank of Argentina provides Household Debt in local currency. The Central Bank of Argentina period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics.


Further information about Argentina Household Debt

• In the latest reports, Argentina Household Debt accounted for 4.5 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024
• Money Supply M2 in Argentina increased 98.1 USD bn YoY in Dec 2024
• Argentina Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 24.3 USD bn in Dec 2024
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 3.7 Months of Import in May 2023
• Argentina Domestic Credit reached 188.7 USD bn in Nov 2024, representing an increased of 115.0 % YoY

Key information about Russia Household Debt

• Russia Household Debt reached 395.3 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with the reported number of 382.7 USD bn in the previous month
• Russia Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Dec 2000 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 525.1 USD bn in Jun 2022 and a record low of 1.7 USD bn in Dec 2000

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. The Bank of Russia provides Household Debt in local currency based on MFSM 2016. The Bank of Russia period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics. Household Debt prior to December 2014 is based on MFSM 2000.


Further information about Russia Household Debt

• In the latest reports, Russia Household Debt accounted for 20.4 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Mar 2024
• Money Supply M2 in Russia increased 1,189.6 USD bn YoY in Jan 2025
• Russia Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 386.4 USD bn in Jan 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 14.9 Months of Import in Oct 2024
• Russia Domestic Credit reached 1,404.0 USD bn in Dec 2024, representing an increased of 19.6 % YoY

The FR 2835 collects interest rates on loans for new vehicles and loans for other consumer goods and personal expenses from a sample of commercial banks and the FR 2835a collects interest rates, finance charges, and loan balances for credit card accounts from a sample of commercial banks. The data from these reports help the Board analyze current household financial conditions and the implications of these conditions for household spending and, as such, these data provide valuable input to the monetary policymaking process. The data are also used to create aggregate statistics on consumer loan terms that are published in the Federal Reserve's monthly statistical releases G.19 Consumer Credit and G.20 Finance Companies, and in the Federal Reserve Bulletin. Some of the aggregates are used by the Board in the calculation of the aggregate household debt service and financial obligations ratios for the Federal Reserve's quarterly Financial Obligations statistical release and by the Bureau of Economic Analysis to calculate interest paid by households as part of the National Income and Product Accounts.

Graph and download economic data for Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized (REVOLSL) from Jan 1968 to May 2025 about securitized, owned, revolving, consumer credit, loans, consumer, and USA.

Key information about China Household Debt

• China Household Debt reached 11,498.4 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with the reported number of 11,347.6 USD bn in the previous month
• China Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2007 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 11,691.0 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 517.7 USD bn in Jan 2007

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. The People's Bank of China provides Household Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics.


Further information about China Household Debt

• In the latest reports, China Household Debt accounted for 63.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Mar 2023
• Money Supply M2 in China increased 44,045.8 USD bn YoY in Sep 2024
• China Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3,209.0 USD bn in Jan 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 13.9 Months of Import in Dec 2024
• China Domestic Credit reached 49,338.1 USD bn in Jan 2025, representing an increased of 7.9 % YoY

Key information about Chile Household Debt

• Chile Household Debt reached 122.2 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with the reported number of 121.3 USD bn in the previous month
• Chile Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2009 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 137.1 USD bn in Mar 2023 and a record low of 40.7 USD bn in Jan 2009

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. The Financial Market Commission provides Household Debt in local currency. The Central Bank of Chile period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics. Household Debt includes Mortgages and Consumer Loans. Household Debt prior to January 2022 is based on International Accounting Standard (IAS) 39.


Further information about Chile Household Debt

• In the latest reports, Chile Household Debt accounted for 39.2 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024
• Money Supply M2 in Chile increased 192.5 USD bn YoY in Jan 2025
• Chile Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 40.9 USD bn in Feb 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 6.5 Months of Import in Feb 2025
• Chile Domestic Credit reached 273.2 USD bn in Nov 2024, representing an increased of 5.5 % YoY