Total household debt in the US increased by $334 billion from the previous quarter, reaching a record $19.1 trillion in Q3 2026. Mortgage balances climbed by $257 billion to $13.4 trillion, while home equity lines of credit (HELOC) rose by $23 billion to $481 billion, the largest quarterly gain since 2005. Credit card balances grew by $22 billion to $1.29 trillion, and auto loan balances advanced by $21 billion to $1.73 trillion. Student loan balances edged up by $5 billion to $1.66 trillion.
“Household debt levels rose moderately, led by increases in mortgage and home equity line of credit originations,” said Donghoon Lee, Economic Research Advisor at the New York Fed. “Although delinquency transition rates for housing debts have crept up, the overall credit quality of these loans remains strong.”
