PR Newswire·Nov 11, 2026, 7:45 AM ET

U.S. consumer debt hit $18.56 trillion in Q3 2026 as non-mortgage delinquencies stabilized

Total U.S. consumer debt rose 2.9% year-over-year to $18.56 trillion in September 2026.
First mortgage loans remained the largest debt driver, totaling $13.08 trillion in September 2026.
Home equity lines of credit (HELOC) balances grew 13.3% year-over-year to $461.9 billion in September 2026.
Non-mortgage debt write-offs held steady at $104.9 billion year-to-date through September 2026.
Non-mortgage consumer debt reached $4.79 trillion in September 2026.
Bankcard balances increased 3.9% to $1.13 trillion with average utilization at 20.3%.
Auto loan balances grew 3.7% year-over-year to $1.745 trillion while severe delinquency rates dropped to 1.50%.
Student loan balances declined 4.0% year-over-year to $1.29 trillion.
Severe delinquency rates for bankcards fell to 2.74%, down 9 basis points from September 2025.