February 2024 U.S. National Consumer Credit Trends Reports (2024)

Insight

April 01, 2024

February 2024 U.S. National Consumer Credit Trends Reports (1)

AS OF FEBRUARY 2024, TOTAL U.S. CONSUMER DEBT was $17.37 trillion, up 2.8% from February 2023. Mortgage debt, including home equity loans, accounted for $12.63 trillion, a 72.7% share of total debt, while non-mortgage consumer debt totaled $4.74 trillion, with 34.5% of non-mortgage consumer debt attributable to auto loans and leases.

Outstanding balances on U.S. bankcards continued to increase to $1.01 trillion, up 11.9% from February 2023. However, the average bankcard utilization increased slightly, from 20.5% in February 2023 to 21.3% in February 2024.

Additionally, outstanding balances on auto loans and leases have increased 3.1% from February 2023, to $1.633 trillion.

Consumer Credit Observations:

  • As of February 2024, total U.S. consumer debt was $17.37 trillion dollars, up 2.8% from February 2023.

  • Mortgage debt, including home equity loans, accounts for $12.63 trillion, making up 72.7% of total U.S. consumer debt.
    • First mortgages are 95.8% of mortgage debt outstanding.
    • Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) were 2.7% of mortgage debt outstanding.
  • Non-mortgage debt totaled $4.74 trillion in February 2024 and breaks down into:
    • 34.5% from auto loans and leases.
    • 31.9% from student loans.
    • 22.8% from credit card balances.
  • Non-mortgage consumer debt write-offs came in at $11.61 billion, an increase of 32.7% from February 2023.

Auto Loans and Leases Observations:

  • Total outstanding balances on auto loans and leases increased 3.1% year-over-year to $1.633 trillion.

  • The number of outstanding accounts stands at 86.6 million, which is comparable to February 2023 levels.

  • The severe balance delinquency (60+ days past due) rate in February 2024 was 1.61%, which is 17 basis points higher than February 2023.

Bankcard Portfolio Observations:

  • Outstanding balances on bankcards increased 11.9% to $1.01 trillion from February 2023 to February 2024.

  • The number of outstanding accounts was 548.4 million, a 4.1% increase from a year ago.

  • The severe balance delinquency rate (60+ days past due), as of February 2024 was 3.21%. In February 2023, the rate was 2.40%.

  • Average bankcard utilization for February 2024 was 21.3%, compared to 20.5% in February 2023.

Equifax publishes monthly U.S. Consumer Credits - including information on private-label credit cards, consumer finance, student loans, and credit originations. Visit our site for U.S. economic and credit insights. To view our top three trends across the globe from the first half of 2023, please visit our site for Global Credit Trends.

February 2024 U.S. National Consumer Credit Trends Reports (2024)

FAQs

February 2024 U.S. National Consumer Credit Trends Reports? ›

Consumer Credit Observations:

What does consumer credit file request mean? ›

It means a lender wants to check your credit file to assess whether they can responsibly lend to you.

When did consumer credit become popular? ›

After the 1920s there was no turning back. Widespread use of con- sumer credit became an indispensable part of American economic life. But for the next 40 years it was still limited mainly to installment buying — "a small down payment and easy monthly payments," as the ads used to say.

What are credit trends? ›

Credit Trends is a powerful intelligence tool that delivers unmatched perspective into anonymous, time-series credit data, specifically attributed for trending, market analysis, benchmarking and research purposes.

Which of the following statements is true about consumer credit? ›

Answer. The true statement about consumer credit is that credit card companies must show borrowers the consequences of only making minimum payments.

Do consumer credit reports hurt your credit? ›

No, requesting your credit report does not hurt your credit score.

Is a consumer report the same as a credit report? ›

An investigative consumer report is akin to a detailed background check in which your character and reputation are assessed. This kind of report is not usually used to assess creditworthiness, but rather your viability as a potential employee or tenant. It is different from a credit report.

What is the most common type of consumer credit today? ›

There are two main types of consumer credit: revolving credit and instalment credit. Revolving credit is the most common type of consumer credit.

What are the disadvantages of consumer credit? ›

The main disadvantage of using revolving consumer credit is the cost to consumers who fail to pay off their entire balances every month and continue to accrue additional interest charges from month to month. The average annual percentage rate on all credit cards was 23.24% as of February 2023.

What is considered a good credit score? ›

Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.

What is the credit market trend in 2024? ›

Key Findings. The federal funds rate is expected to drop by 150 basis points (1.5%), from 5.3% to 3.8%, by the end of 2024. Commercial lending rates are almost certain to drop alongside the federal funds rate, providing an opportunity for borrowers to refinance high-interest loans.

What is a trended credit report? ›

Trended data shows a person's pattern of financial behavior over a set period of time, generally about 24 months. Trended data is more detailed than credit scores and can tell a lender more about your risk. Financial choices highlighted in trended data may help or hurt your ability to open future lines of credit.

What are the 3 C's to a credit ranking situation? ›

Students classify those characteristics based on the three C's of credit (capacity, character, and collateral), assess the riskiness of lending to that individual based on these characteristics, and then decide whether or not to approve or deny the loan request.

What are the four most common forms of consumer credit? ›

Some common types of consumer credit are installment credit, non-installment credit, revolving credit, and open credit. Similarities of these types of credit are that they all have some form of a repayment period, interest rates, the possibility of interest charges, and monthly or lump sum payments.

What are the two main forms of credit used most often by the average consumer? ›

The two main forms of credit used most often by the average consumer are credit cards and loans. Credit cards allow consumers to make purchases on credit and pay off the balance over time, while loans provide consumers with a lump sum of money that is repaid with interest.

Is consumer credit a debt? ›

Consumer debt consists of personal debts that are owed as a result of purchasing goods that are used for individual or household consumption. Credit card debt, student loans, auto loans, mortgages, and payday loans are all examples of consumer debt.

What is a consumer report request? ›

A consumer report is background information collected by consumer reporting agencies and used by employers and creditors in determining whether to hire or loan to an individual.

What does it mean when a lender request a copy of your credit file? ›

When lenders pull your credit, they look at both the information on your report and your FICO® Score. This helps them get an idea of your credit record, which impacts not only whether you're approved, but also the types of rates and terms you can get.

What is a customer credit file? ›

Most of your consumer credit file is dedicated to information about your current and past accounts, including when you opened each account, what your highest balance has been, the type of account (whether it is an individual or joint account), the account balance, the date of your last payment, and the amount of your ...

What is the meaning of consumer credit report? ›

A credit report is a statement that has information about your credit activity and current credit situation such as loan paying history and the status of your credit accounts. Most people have more than one credit report.

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