Average Credit Card Debt in 2026: 20 Statistics From the Fed
Americans owed $1.263 trillion on credit cards in Q2 2026. Twenty credit card debt statistics from the New York Fed, the Federal Reserve G.19 and the Survey of Consumer Finances, by age, APR and delinquency.
Americans owed $1.263 trillion on credit cards at the end of June 2026, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Household Debt and Credit Report. That is up $21 billion in one quarter even as total household debt slipped. The typical family that carries a balance owes far less than the headlines suggest, but the interest on that balance is near a record. Here are 20 statistics from three Federal Reserve sources, each with its date, so you can check them yourself.
Data as of October 6, 2026. Figures come from the New York Fed’s Q2 2026 report released August 11, 2026, the Federal Reserve Board’s G.19 Consumer Credit release dated September 8, 2026, and the Fed’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, the latest survey published. Where we divide one Fed number by another, we say so. Card interest rates are variable and can change, and your own rate may differ from these averages. This page is general information, not financial advice.
Key takeaways
- Total card debt: $1.263 trillion in Q2 2026, up $54 billion from a year earlier.
- Typical balance: a median $2,700 and mean $6,100 for families that carry a balance (2022 SCF).
- Cost of carrying it: 22.15% APR on average for accounts assessed interest in Q2 2026.
- Stress: 12.92% of card balances were 90+ days delinquent in Q2 2026.
- Most debt by age: borrowers aged 40 to 49 held about $295 billion of card balances.
Credit card debt at a glance (Q2 2026)
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total credit card balances | $1.263 trillion | New York Fed, Q2 2026 |
| Change from Q1 2026 | +$21 billion (+1.7%) | New York Fed, Q2 2026 |
| Change from Q2 2025 | +$54 billion | New York Fed, Q2 2026 |
| Open credit card accounts | 653.6 million | New York Fed, Q2 2026 |
| Total credit card limits | $5.559 trillion | New York Fed, Q2 2026 |
| Average APR, accounts assessed interest | 22.15% | Fed G.19, Q2 2026 |
| Average APR, all accounts | 20.94% | Fed G.19, Q2 2026 |
| Card balances 90+ days delinquent | 12.92% | New York Fed, Q2 2026 |
| Median balance, families with card debt | $2,700 | Fed SCF, 2022 |
| Families carrying a card balance | 45.2% | Fed SCF, 2022 |
How much Americans owe on credit cards
1. Credit card balances reached $1.263 trillion in Q2 2026
The New York Fed reports credit card debt of $1.263 trillion at the end of June 2026. The figure comes from the New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel, a nationally representative sample drawn from anonymized Equifax credit data.
2. Balances rose $21 billion in a single quarter
From Q1 to Q2 2026, card balances increased by $21 billion, or 1.7%, per the New York Fed’s report. In the same quarter, total household debt fell by $13 billion to $18.771 trillion, mostly because mortgage balances dropped $74 billion, which the New York Fed attributes largely to a servicer transfer gap in reporting.
3. Card debt is up $54 billion from a year earlier
The New York Fed’s table shows an annual increase of $54 billion in credit card debt from Q2 2025 to Q2 2026. Card balances usually dip in the first quarter as holiday bills get paid down, so the year-over-year number is the cleaner trend.
4. Card balances are up about 36% since the end of 2019
At the end of 2019, just before the pandemic, card balances were $0.927 trillion. They fell to $0.819 trillion at the end of 2020 as households paid down debt, then climbed every year after. Q2 2026’s $1.263 trillion is about 36% above the end-2019 level (our calculation from the New York Fed data).
5. Credit cards are about 7% of household debt
Of the $18.771 trillion households owed in Q2 2026, mortgages were $13.117 trillion, auto loans $1.713 trillion, student loans $1.651 trillion, credit cards $1.263 trillion and home equity lines of credit $0.459 trillion. Cards are a small slice of the total but carry by far the highest interest rates.
| Debt type | Balance, Q2 2026 | Change from Q1 2026 | Change from Q2 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage | $13.117 trillion | -$74 billion | +$182 billion |
| Auto loan | $1.713 trillion | +$28 billion | +$58 billion |
| Student loan | $1.651 trillion | -$7 billion | +$13 billion |
| Credit card | $1.263 trillion | +$21 billion | +$54 billion |
| HELOC | $0.459 trillion | +$13 billion | +$48 billion |
| Other | $0.568 trillion | +$6 billion | +$28 billion |
| Total | $18.771 trillion | -$13 billion | +$383 billion |
Source: New York Fed press release, August 11, 2026.
The average balance, measured three ways
6. The median family with card debt owed $2,700
The Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, the latest published, found that among families with a credit card balance after their last payment, the median balance was $2,700, down 14% from 2019. The median is the better “typical” number because a small group with very large balances pulls the average up.
7. The mean balance for those families was $6,100
The same survey put the mean balance at $6,100 for families carrying card debt in 2022, down 16% from 2019. Survey figures are in 2022 dollars and predate the run-up in balances since then, so today’s typical balance is likely higher.
8. About $1,930 of debt per open card account
Dividing the New York Fed’s $1.263 trillion of balances by its count of 653.6 million open card accounts gives roughly $1,930 per account in Q2 2026 (our calculation). The New York Fed notes its account counts are not de-duplicated for joint accounts, so the true per-account figure is somewhat higher, and many people hold several cards.
9. 45.2% of families carry a card balance
In the 2022 SCF, 45.2% of families had a credit card balance after their last payment, about the same as 45.4% in 2019. Credit card debt was the most widely held type of debt in the survey.
10. 55.7% of card-holding families pay in full
The SCF also reports that 55.7% of families with credit cards used them for convenience only in 2022, meaning they did not carry a balance. That share has drifted down from 57.5% in 2016.
| Measure (2022 SCF) | Value |
|---|---|
| Families with a credit card balance | 45.2% |
| Median balance, families with a balance | $2,700 |
| Mean balance, families with a balance | $6,100 |
| Card-holding families that pay in full | 55.7% |
| Families with debt that were late on a payment in the past year | 12.2% |
Source: Federal Reserve, Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2019 to 2022.
Credit card debt by age
11. Borrowers in their 40s hold the most card debt
The New York Fed’s Q2 2026 data put credit card balances for borrowers aged 40 to 49 at about $295 billion, the most of any age group, followed by 50 to 59 at about $280 billion. Borrowers aged 18 to 29 held about $81 billion.
| Age group | Card balances, Q2 2026 | Share of card debt | Flow into 90+ day delinquency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 to 29 | $80.8 billion | 6.4% | 10.08% |
| 30 to 39 | $222.3 billion | 17.6% | 8.26% |
| 40 to 49 | $295.3 billion | 23.4% | 7.62% |
| 50 to 59 | $279.9 billion | 22.2% | 6.41% |
| 60 to 69 | $216.6 billion | 17.2% | 4.98% |
| 70 and older | $167.0 billion | 13.2% | 6.34% |
Source: New York Fed Household Debt and Credit Report underlying data, Q2 2026. Shares are our calculation from the New York Fed’s balances, which may not sum to the total because some birth years are unknown. Delinquency flow is the annualized share of card balances moving into 90+ days late.
12. The youngest borrowers fall behind fastest
Borrowers aged 18 to 29 had the highest rate of card balances moving into serious delinquency in Q2 2026, at 10.08% annualized, versus 4.98% for those aged 60 to 69. Smaller balances do not mean less risk: younger borrowers have thinner savings and less credit history to fall back on.
What carrying a balance costs
13. Accounts assessed interest paid 22.15% in Q2 2026
The Federal Reserve’s G.19 release lists the commercial bank credit card rate for accounts assessed interest at 22.15% in Q2 2026. That is the rate that applies if you revolve a balance.
14. The all-accounts average was 20.94%
Across all accounts, including those that pay in full and are never charged interest, G.19 shows 20.94% for Q2 2026. The gap between the two numbers is why a headline “average APR” can understate what borrowers actually pay.
15. Assessed-interest APRs are up nearly 6 points since 2021
G.19 annual averages for accounts assessed interest were 16.45% in 2021, 17.91% in 2022, 22.15% in 2023, 22.89% in 2024 and 22.32% in 2025. Quarterly, the rate fell to 21.52% in Q1 2026 before rising back to 22.15% in Q2 2026.
| Period | APR, accounts assessed interest | APR, all accounts |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16.45% | 14.60% |
| 2022 | 17.91% | 16.26% |
| 2023 | 22.15% | 20.90% |
| 2024 | 22.89% | 21.58% |
| 2025 | 22.32% | 21.22% |
| Q4 2025 | 22.30% | 20.97% |
| Q1 2026 | 21.52% | 21.00% |
| Q2 2026 | 22.15% | 20.94% |
Source: Federal Reserve Board G.19, release dated September 8, 2026 (commercial bank interest rates on credit card plans, not seasonally adjusted).
16. A $6,100 balance costs about $1,350 a year at 22.15%
At the G.19 assessed-interest average of 22.15%, carrying the SCF’s mean balance of $6,100 for a full year costs roughly $1,350 in interest, and the median $2,700 balance costs about $600 (our simple-interest estimate; actual cost depends on your APR, compounding and payments). That is the money a 0% intro APR card can save if you clear the balance during the promo.
17. Revolving credit was $1.357 trillion in July 2026
G.19’s broader revolving credit series, which includes credit cards and other revolving lines, was $1,357.2 billion in July 2026 (seasonally adjusted, preliminary), growing at a 2.5% annual rate that month. It is measured differently from the New York Fed’s card-only balance, but both show a large and still-growing stock of revolving debt.
Delinquency and credit lines
18. 12.92% of card balances are 90+ days delinquent
The New York Fed’s data show 12.92% of credit card balances were seriously delinquent (90 or more days late) in Q2 2026, down from 13.12% in Q1 2026 but up from 12.27% in Q2 2025. That is the highest serious-delinquency share of any major debt type in the report.
| Debt type | Share of balance 90+ days delinquent, Q2 2026 | Annualized flow into 90+ days, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 12.92% | 6.97% |
| Student loan | 10.60% | 7.83% |
| Auto loan | 5.49% | 3.00% |
| HELOC | 0.99% | 1.15% |
| Mortgage | 0.99% | 1.52% |
| All debt | 3.31% | 2.57% |
Source: New York Fed Household Debt and Credit Report, Q2 2026 underlying data and press release.
19. New serious card delinquencies are steady near 7%
The annualized flow of card balances into serious delinquency was 6.97% in Q2 2026, versus 6.93% a year earlier. “Delinquency rates across most products have held steady over the past two years,” said Joelle Scally of the New York Fed, adding that “new delinquencies for auto loans and credit cards remain at elevated levels.” The flow into early (30+ day) delinquency on cards was 8.69% in Q2 2026.
20. Card limits reached $5.559 trillion, about 23% used
Aggregate credit card limits were $5.559 trillion in Q2 2026, with $4.296 trillion of available credit, per the New York Fed. Balances of $1.263 trillion equal about 23% of total limits (our calculation). Limits were up $85 billion from Q1 2026 in the New York Fed’s data. Rising limits support spending but also leave room for bigger balances.
How to put these numbers to work
- Compare your balance with the median, not the mean. If you owe more than $2,700 and pay interest, you are above the typical family with card debt in the latest Fed survey.
- Price your interest. Multiply your balance by your APR and divide by 12 for a rough monthly interest cost. At 22.15%, every $1,000 costs about $18 a month.
- Use a 0% window if you can repay in time. Our best 0% intro APR cards list compares intro lengths, transfer windows and fees checked on issuer pages.
- Protect your payment history. Card balances move into serious delinquency faster than any other major debt except student loans. Set up at least the minimum payment on autopay.
- Read the primary sources. The New York Fed Household Debt and Credit page, G.19 and the SCF are free to read. For broader cardholder data, see our credit card statistics page.
Methodology
All statistics come from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Q2 2026 Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit (released August 11, 2026) and its underlying data, the Federal Reserve Board’s G.19 Consumer Credit release dated September 8, 2026, and the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. The next G.19 release and the Q3 2026 New York Fed report will update several figures; we will refresh this page when they publish. Calculations we made from Fed figures are labeled. We do not cite aggregator sites. This article is general information and is not financial advice.
Sources
- Household Debt Balances Decreased Slightly; Credit Card Delinquency Transition Rates Remained Steady, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, August 11, 2026
- Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, Q2 2026, and underlying data, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
- G.19 Consumer Credit, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, release dated September 8, 2026
- Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2019 to 2022: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, October 2023
Related: credit score statistics 2026, with New York Fed data on scores at origination, utilization and collections.
For education borrowing totals from Federal Student Aid and the New York Fed, see student loan debt statistics 2026.
Thinking about consolidating card balances? See personal loan statistics 2026 for Federal Reserve rate data and New York Fed delinquency figures.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average credit card debt in the U.S.?
Among families that carry a credit card balance, the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances found a median balance of $2,700 and a mean of $6,100. It is the most recent survey the Fed has published. Across the whole market, the New York Fed counted $1.263 trillion of card balances on 653.6 million accounts in Q2 2026, or about $1,930 per account.
How much total credit card debt do Americans have in 2026?
Per the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Household Debt and Credit Report, credit card balances were $1.263 trillion at the end of June 2026, up $21 billion from Q1 2026 and $54 billion from Q2 2025.
What is the average credit card interest rate in 2026?
The Federal Reserve's G.19 release dated September 8, 2026 shows commercial bank cards charged an average 22.15% APR on accounts assessed interest in Q2 2026, and 20.94% across all accounts, including people who pay in full.
Which age group has the most credit card debt?
Borrowers aged 40 to 49 held the most, about $295 billion of card balances in Q2 2026, followed by 50 to 59 at about $280 billion, per the New York Fed. Borrowers aged 18 to 29 held the least, about $81 billion, but had the highest rate of balances moving into serious delinquency.
What share of credit card debt is seriously delinquent?
The New York Fed reports 12.92% of credit card balances were 90 or more days delinquent in Q2 2026, down from 13.12% in Q1 2026 but up from 12.27% in Q2 2025. The annualized flow of card balances into serious delinquency was 6.97%.
How many Americans carry a credit card balance?
In the Fed's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, 45.2% of families had a credit card balance after their last payment. The same survey found 55.7% of card-holding families used cards for convenience only, meaning they did not carry a balance.