The Global Financial Crisis of 2008-09 was a period of severe macroeconomic instability for the United States and the global economy more generally. The crisis was precipitated by the collapse of a number of financial institutions who were deeply involved in the U.S. mortgage market and associated credit markets. Beginning in the Summer of 2007, a number of banks began to report issues with increasing mortgage delinquencies and the problem of not being able to accurately price derivatives contracts which were based on bundles of these U.S. residential mortgages. By the end of 2008, U.S. financial institutions had begun to fail due to their exposure to the housing market, leading to one of the deepest recessions in the history of the United States and to extensive government bailouts of the financial sector.

Subprime and the collapse of the U.S. mortgage market

The early 2000s had seen explosive growth in the U.S. mortgage market, as credit became cheaper due to the Federal Reserve's decision to lower interest rates in the aftermath of the 2001 'Dot Com' Crash, as well as because of the increasing globalization of financial flows which directed funds into U.S. financial markets. Lower mortgage rates gave incentive to financial institutions to begin lending to riskier borrowers, using so-called 'subprime' loans. These were loans to borrowers with poor credit scores, who would not have met the requirements for a conventional mortgage loan. In order to hedge against the risk of these riskier loans, financial institutions began to use complex financial instruments known as derivatives, which bundled mortgage loans together and allowed the risk of default to be sold on to willing investors. This practice was supposed to remove the risk from these loans, by effectively allowing credit institutions to buy insurance against delinquencies. Due to the fraudulent practices of credit ratings agencies, however, the price of these contacts did not reflect the real risk of the loans involved. As the reality of the inability of the borrowers to repay began to kick in during 2007, the financial markets which traded these derivatives came under increasing stress and eventually led to a 'sudden stop' in trading and credit intermediation during 2008.

Market Panic and The Great Recession

As borrowers failed to make repayments, this had a knock-on effect among financial institutions who were highly leveraged with financial instruments based on the mortgage market. Lehman Brothers, one of the world's largest investment banks, failed on September 15th 2008, causing widespread panic in financial markets. Due to the fear of an unprecedented collapse in the financial sector which would have untold consequences for the wider economy, the U.S. government and central bank, The Fed, intervened the following day to bailout the United States' largest insurance company, AIG, and to backstop financial markets. The crisis prompted a deep recession, known colloquially as The Great Recession, drawing parallels between this period and The Great Depression. The collapse of credit intermediation in the economy lead to further issues in the real economy, as business were increasingly unable to pay back loans and were forced to lay off staff, driving unemployment to a high of almost 10 percent in 2010. While there has been criticism of the U.S. government's actions to bailout the financial institutions involved, the actions of the government and the Fed are seen by many as having prevented the crisis from spiraling into a depression of the magnitude of The Great Depression.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Single-Family Residential Mortgages, Booked in Domestic Offices, All Commercial Banks (DRSFRMACBS) from Q1 1991 to Q1 2025 about domestic offices, delinquencies, 1-unit structures, mortgage, family, residential, commercial, domestic, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Following the drastic increase directly after the COVID-19 pandemic, the delinquency rate started to gradually decline, falling below *** percent in the second quarter of 2023. In the second half of 2023, the delinquency rate picked up, but remained stable throughout 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, **** percent of mortgage loans were delinquent. That was significantly lower than the **** percent during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 or the peak of *** percent during the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007-2010. What does the mortgage delinquency rate tell us? The mortgage delinquency rate is the share of the total number of mortgaged home loans in the U.S. where payment is overdue by 30 days or more. Many borrowers eventually manage to service their loan, though, as indicated by the markedly lower foreclosure rates. Total home mortgage debt in the U.S. stood at almost ** trillion U.S. dollars in 2024. Not all mortgage loans are made equal ‘Subprime’ loans, being targeted at high-risk borrowers and generally coupled with higher interest rates to compensate for the risk. These loans have far higher delinquency rates than conventional loans. Defaulting on such loans was one of the triggers for the 2007-2010 financial crisis, with subprime delinquency rates reaching almost ** percent around this time. These higher delinquency rates translate into higher foreclosure rates, which peaked at just under ** percent of all subprime mortgages in 2011.

BackgroundWhere the data come fromThe Mortgage Performance Trends data come from the NMDB, a joint project we’ve undertaken with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). For more information, visit the NMDB program page .The core data in the NMDB come from data maintained by one of the top three nationwide credit repositories. The NMDB has a nationally representative, 5 percent sample of all outstanding, closed-end, first-lien, 1–4 family residential mortgages.The data and analyses presented herein are the sole product of the CFPB. Use of information downloaded from our website, and any alteration or representation regarding such information by a party, is the responsibility of such party.Why the data matterMortgage delinquency rates reflect the health of the mortgage market, and the health of the overall economy.The 30–89 mortgage delinquency rate is a measure of early stage delinquencies. It generally captures borrowers that have missed one or two payments. This rate can be an early indicator of mortgage market health. However, this rate is seasonally volatile and sensitive to temporary economic shocks.The 90–day delinquency rate is a measure of serious delinquencies. It generally captures borrowers that have missed three or more payments. This rate measures more severe economic distress.PrivacyThe Mortgage Performance Trends data have many protections in place to protect personal identity. Before the CFPB or the FHFA receive any data for the NMDB, all records are stripped of information that might reveal a consumer’s identity, such as names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. All data shown are aggregated by state, metropolitan statistical area, or county.

United States - Delinquency Rate on Single-Family Residential Mortgages, Booked in Domestic Offices, Banks Ranked 1st to 100th Largest in Size by Assets was 1.89% in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Delinquency Rate on Single-Family Residential Mortgages, Booked in Domestic Offices, Banks Ranked 1st to 100th Largest in Size by Assets reached a record high of 12.81 in January of 2010 and a record low of 1.38 in October of 2004. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Delinquency Rate on Single-Family Residential Mortgages, Booked in Domestic Offices, Banks Ranked 1st to 100th Largest in Size by Assets - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Commercial Real Estate Loans (Excluding Farmland), Booked in Domestic Offices, All Commercial Banks (DRCRELEXFACBS) from Q1 1991 to Q1 2025 about farmland, domestic offices, delinquencies, real estate, commercial, domestic, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

The mortgage delinquency rate for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans in the United States declined since 2020, when it peaked at 15.65 percent. In the second quarter of 2024, 10.6 percent of FHA loans were delinquent. Historically, FHA mortgages have the highest delinquency rate of all mortgage types.

From May to June 2020, the commercial mortgage delinquency rate in the hotel sector in the United States went up from two percent to 11.49 percent. The leisure and hospitality sector was one of the most affected sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic. As for the multifamily sector, the delinquency rate increased only by 0.18 percent in that time period.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Consumer Loans, All Commercial Banks (DRCLACBS) from Q1 1987 to Q1 2025 about delinquencies, commercial, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

In 2023, the delinquency rates of all types of mortgage lenders in Canada increased. As of the fourth quarter of the year, approximately 1.05 percent of loans in the loan portfolios of mortgage investment entities (MIEs) were classified as delinquent, which was a decrease from the 0.78 percent delinquency rate a year ago. A loan is reported by lenders as being delinquent after 270 days of late payments.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on All Loans, All Commercial Banks (DRALACBN) from Q1 1985 to Q1 2025 about delinquencies, commercial, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

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

United States - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks was 3.05% in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks reached a record high of 6.77 in April of 2009 and a record low of 1.53 in July of 2021. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

In the first quarter of 2025, roughly **** percent of all consumer loans at commercial banks in the United States were delinquent. The delinquency rate on this type of credit has been rising again since 2021. Loans are delinquent when the borrower does not pay their obligations on time. One of the reasons for the delinquency rate decreasing during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic was that the personal saving rate in the U.S. soared during that period. What is the trend in consumer credit levels in the United States? Consumer credit refers to the various types of loans and credit extended to individuals for personal use, often to fund everyday purchases or larger expenses. When credit levels rise, it often signals that consumers are more confident in their ability to manage debt and make future payments. After a period of strong growth between 2021 and early 2023, consumer credit in the United States has been growing at a slower pace. By early 2024, consumer credit levels reached over **** trillion U.S. dollars. What is the main channel for acquiring consumer credit? In 2024, the leading type of consumer credit among consumers in the U.S. was credit card bills. Credit card usage in the North American country was substantial and credit card penetration was expected to reach over **** percent by 2029. Car loans ranked next as a common source of consumer credit, while other types of debt, such as medical bills, home equity lines of credit, and personal educational loans, had lower percentages.

South Africa: Percent of mortgage debt balance 90+ days delinquent: The latest value from is percent, unavailable from percent in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 percent, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from to is percent. The minimum value, percent, was reached in while the maximum of percent was recorded in .

In 2023, Americans in the 18 to 29 age group had the highest amount of car loans transitioning into serious delinquency. These figures signal the share of borrowers whose car loan balance went from early delinquency to serious delinquency in the last quarter. That means that in 2023, 3.39 percent of the car loans granted to people in their thirties reached the 90-days-late threshold that marks serious delinquency. The average share of car loans in serious delinquency in the U.S. independently of age was 3.95 percent in 2023.

In 2022, the student loan default rate in the United States was highest for Black borrowers, at **** percent. In comparison, Asian borrowers were least likely to default on their student loans.

The Federal National Mortgage Association, commonly known as Fannie Mae, was created by the U.S. congress in 1938, in order to maintain liquidity and stability in the domestic mortgage market. The company is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE), meaning that while it was a publicly traded company for most of its history, it was still supported by the federal government. While there is no legally binding guarantee of shares in GSEs or their securities, it is generally acknowledged that the U.S. government is highly unlikely to let these enterprises fail. Due to these implicit guarantees, GSEs are able to access financing at a reduced cost of interest. Fannie Mae's main activity is the purchasing of mortgage loans from their originators (banks, mortgage brokers etc.) and packaging them into mortgage-backed securities (MBS) in order to ease the access of U.S. homebuyers to housing credit. The early 2000s U.S. mortgage finance boom During the early 2000s, Fannie Mae was swept up in the U.S. housing boom which eventually led to the financial crisis of 2007-2008. The association's stated goal of increasing access of lower income families to housing finance coalesced with the interests of private mortgage lenders and Wall Street investment banks, who had become heavily reliant on the housing market to drive profits. Private lenders had begun to offer riskier mortgage loans in the early 2000s due to low interest rates in the wake of the "Dot Com" crash and their need to maintain profits through increasing the volume of loans on their books. The securitized products created by these private lenders did not maintain the standards which had traditionally been upheld by GSEs. Due to their market share being eaten into by private firms, however, the GSEs involved in the mortgage markets began to also lower their standards, resulting in a 'race to the bottom'. The fall of Fannie Mae The lowering of lending standards was a key factor in creating the housing bubble, as mortgages were now being offered to borrowers with little or no ability to repay the loans. Combined with fraudulent practices from credit ratings agencies, who rated the junk securities created from these mortgage loans as being of the highest standard, this led directly to the financial panic that erupted on Wall Street beginning in 2007. As the U.S. economy slowed down in 2006, mortgage delinquency rates began to spike. Fannie Mae's losses in the mortgage security market in 2006 and 2007, along with the losses of the related GSE 'Freddie Mac', had caused its share value to plummet, stoking fears that it may collapse. On September 7th 2008, Fannie Mae was taken into government conservatorship along with Freddie Mac, with their stocks being delisted from stock exchanges in 2010. This act was seen as an unprecedented direct intervention into the economy by the U.S. government, and a symbol of how far the U.S. housing market had fallen.

In 2022, the student loan default rate in the United States was highest for borrowers who did not complete a degree, at 45 percent. In comparison, borrowers with a bachelor's degree or higher were least likely to default on their student loans.

In 2022, the student loan default rate in the United States was highest for borrowers in the bottom ** percent of the family income bracket, at ** percent. In comparison, borrowers in the top 25 percent were least likely to default on their student loans.