FX.co ★ US Household Debt Rises to New Record

In the third quarter of 2025, total household debt in the United States reached a new peak, increasing by $197 billion from the previous quarter to a total of $18.59 trillion. Mortgage balances saw a rise of $137 billion, reaching $13.07 trillion, while credit card balances grew by $24 billion to $1.23 trillion. Home equity line of credit (HELOC) balances increased by $11 billion, totaling $422 billion, and student loan balances climbed by $15 billion to $1.65 trillion. Auto loan balances, however, remained unchanged at $1.66 trillion. The volume of mortgage originations also grew, with $512 billion newly originated in the third quarter. According to Donghoon Lee, Economic Research Advisor at the New York Fed, "Household debt balances are expanding at a moderate rate, with delinquency rates showing stabilization. The relatively low mortgage delinquency rates are indicative of the housing market's stability, supported by substantial home equity and stringent underwriting standards."