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.

Debt Balance Credit Cards in the United States decreased to 1.18 Trillion USD in the first quarter of 2025 from 1.21 Trillion USD in the fourth quarter of 2024. 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 2025-07-02 about revolving, credit cards, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, and USA.

The generation X was the group of people with the highest average credit card balance in the United States in 2023. That year, the average credit card debt of the generation Z amounted to approximately 3,260 U.S. dollars. People in the silent generation had a credit card balance of roughly 3,410 U.S. dollars.

As of the last quarter of 2022, Alaska and Hawaii were the states in the U.S. with the highest credit card debt. While the average credit card debt in Alaska amounted to 4,430 U.S. dollars, people from Mississippi only had on average 2,450 U.S. dollars of credit card debt.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, Banks Not Among the 100 Largest in Size by Assets (DRCCLOBS) from Q1 1991 to Q1 2025 about credit cards, delinquencies, assets, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Large Bank Consumer Credit Card Balances: Total Balances (RCCCBBALTOT) from Q3 2012 to Q1 2025 about FR Y-14M, consumer credit, credit cards, large, balance, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, and USA.

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.

Households Debt in the United States decreased to 69.20 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 70.50 percent of GDP in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - United States Households Debt To Gdp- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the generation X was the age group with the highest amount of auto loan debt in the United States. That group had on average a car loan debt of roughly 27,100 U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the silent generation had the lowest amount of auto loan debt, amounting to approximately 16,050 U.S. dollars.

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

• 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

Total credit card debt in the UK grew by **** 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 March 2025, reaching *** percent when compared to March 2024. 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.

Consumer Credit in the United States decreased to 5.10 USD Billion in May from 16.87 USD Billion in April 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 Household Debt Service Payments as a Percent of Disposable Personal Income (TDSP) from Q1 1980 to Q1 2025 about disposable, payments, debt, personal income, percent, personal, households, services, income, and USA.

In 2023, outstanding auto loan debt in the United States reached a value of 1.51 trillion U.S. dollars. The overall value of car loan debt in 2019 amounted to 1.21 trillion U.S. dollars, showing an increase of approximately 300 billion U.S. dollars in three years.

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

Graph and download economic data for Large Bank Consumer Credit Card Balances: 90 or More Days Past Due Rates: Accounts Based (RCCCBACTDPD90P) from Q3 2012 to Q1 2025 about 90 days +, accounts, FR Y-14M, consumer credit, credit cards, large, balance, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

United States - Consumer Loans: Credit Cards and Other Revolving Plans, All Commercial Banks was 1097.63200 Bil. of U.S. $ in May of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Consumer Loans: Credit Cards and Other Revolving Plans, All Commercial Banks reached a record high of 1097.63200 in May of 2025 and a record low of 211.93890 in July of 2000. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Consumer Loans: Credit Cards and Other Revolving Plans, All Commercial Banks - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

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.

The consumer debt settlement market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing consumer debt levels globally and a rising awareness of debt relief solutions. The market's expansion is fueled by several factors, including the rising prevalence of unsecured debt like credit card and personal loans, economic downturns impacting individual financial stability, and the increasing availability of debt settlement services through both online platforms and traditional financial advisory firms. The segment encompassing open-end loans (like credit cards) and closed-end loans (like personal loans) constitutes a significant portion of the market, reflecting the widespread nature of consumer debt. Within these segments, credit card debt relief remains a dominant area, given the high interest rates and often overwhelming balances associated with these products. Medical and private student loan debt settlement are also exhibiting significant growth, driven by escalating healthcare costs and rising tuition fees respectively. Competition among companies like Freedom Debt Relief, National Debt Relief, and others is intense, leading to innovative service offerings and increased consumer choice. This competition, however, also presents a challenge in terms of maintaining profit margins and ensuring ethical practices within the industry. Regional variations exist, with North America and Europe currently leading the market, but developing economies in Asia-Pacific are poised for substantial growth as consumer credit markets mature. The forecast period (2025-2033) anticipates continued market expansion, although the rate of growth might slightly moderate compared to the historical period (2019-2024) as the market matures. Factors potentially influencing this moderate growth include increased regulatory scrutiny of debt settlement companies, the potential for economic recovery in certain regions leading to reduced consumer need for debt relief, and ongoing efforts to educate consumers about alternative debt management strategies. Despite these factors, the long-term outlook remains positive, driven by the persistent issue of consumer debt and the ongoing need for professional debt resolution services. Further segmentation by loan type and the emergence of new technological solutions for debt management are expected to shape the market landscape in the coming years.