NEW YORK – The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Center for Microeconomic Data today issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit. The Report shows an increase in total household debt in the second quarter of 2022, increasing by $312 billion (2%) to $16.15 trillion. Balances now stand $2 trillion higher than at the end of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The report is based on data from the New York Fed's nationally representative Consumer Credit Panel.
Mortgage balances rose by $207 billion in the second quarter of 2022 and stood at $11.39 trillion at the end of June. Credit card balances also increased by $46 billion. Although seasonal patterns typically include an increase in the second quarter, the 13% cumulative increase in credit card balances since Q2 2021 represents the largest in more than 20 years. Auto loan balances increased by a solid $33 billion in the second quarter, while student loan balances were roughly unchanged from the first quarter and stand at $1.59 trillion. Other balances–which includes retail cards and other consumer loans –increased by a robust $25 billion. In total, non-housing balances grew by $103 billion, the largest increase seen since 2016.
Mortgage originations slightly declined in the second quarter and stood at $758 billion. The volume of newly originated auto loans increased to $199 billion, continuing the high volumes seen in dollar terms since Q3 2020. Aggregate limits on credit card accounts increased by $100 billion and now stand at $4.22 trillion–the largest increase in more than ten years.
"The second quarter of 2022 showed robust increases in mortgage, auto loan, and credit card balances, driven in part by rising prices," said Joelle Scally, Administrator of the Center for Microeconomic Data at the New York Fed. "While household balance sheets overall appear to be in a strong position, we are seeing rising delinquencies among subprime and low-income borrowers with rates approaching pre-pandemic levels."
The share of current debt transitioning into delinquency increased modestly for all debt types but remains historically very low. The delinquency transition rate for credit cards, auto loans, and other debts increased by 0.5 percentage points, with home equity lines of credit increasing by 0.7 percentage points.
The New York Fed also issued an accompanying Liberty Street Economics blog post examining delinquency rates across debt types with a breakdown of auto delinquency by state.
The Quarterly Report includes a summary of key takeaways and their supporting data points. Overarching trends from the report's summary include:
Housing Debt
- There was $758 billion in newly originated mortgage debt in Q2 2022, with 65% of it originated to borrowers with credit scores over 760. Three percent of newly originated mortgages were originated to subprime borrowers, a sharp contrast to the 13% average seen between 2003-2007.
- Although foreclosures have been very low due to the moratoria on new foreclosures and mortgage forbearances, 35,000 individuals saw new foreclosures on the credit reports, an increase from 24,000 in the previous quarter. This potentially suggests the beginning of a return to more typical levels.
- The share of mortgage balances 90+ days past due remained at 0.5%, a historic low.
Student Loans
- Outstanding student loan debt stood at $1.59 trillion in Q2 2022, roughly unchanged from Q1 2022.
- About 5% of aggregate student debt was 90+ days delinquent or in default in Q2 2022. The lower level of student debt delinquency reflects a Department of Education decision to report current status on loans eligible for CARES Act forbearances.
Account Closings, Credit Inquiries and Collection Accounts
- The number of credit inquiries within the past six months–an indicator of consumer credit demand–was roughly unchanged at 110 million.
- 233 million new accounts were opened in the second quarter, an increase from the previous quarter and the highest seen since 2008.
Household Debt and Credit Developments as of Q2 2022
Category |
Quarterly Change * (Billions $) | Annual Change** (Billions $) |
Total As Of Q2 2022 (Trillions $) |
| Mortgage Debt | (+) $207 | (+) $945 | $11.39 |
| Home Equity Line Of Credit | (-) $1 | (-) $3 | $0.32 |
| Student Debt | (-) $1 | (+) $19 | $1.59 |
| Auto Debt | (+) $33 | (+) $87 | $1.50 |
| Credit Card Debt | (+) $46 | (+) $100 | $0.89 |
| Other | (+) $25 | (+) $49 | $0.47 |
| Total Debt | (+) $312 | (+) $1197 | $16.15 |
*Change from Q1 2022 to Q2 2022
** Change from Q2 2021 to Q2 2022
Flow into Serious Delinquency (90 days or more delinquent)
Category 1 |
Q2 2021 | Q2 2022 |
| Mortgage Debt | 0.34% | 0.44% |
| Home Equity Line Of Credit | 0.26% | 0.32% |
| Student Loan Debt | 1.05% | 0.98% |
| Auto Loan Debt | 1.61% | 1.81% |
| Credit Card Debt | 3.04% | 3.35% |
| Other | 2.88% | 3.21% |
| ALL | 0.72% | 0.84% |
About the Report
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Household Debt and Credit Report provides unique data and insight into the credit conditions and activity of U.S. consumers. Based on data from the New York Fed's Consumer Credit Panel, a nationally representative sample drawn from anonymized Equifax credit data, the report provides a quarterly snapshot of household trends in borrowing and indebtedness, including data about mortgages, student loans, credit cards, auto loans and delinquencies. The report aims to help community groups, small businesses, state and local governments and the public to better understand, monitor, and respond to trends in borrowing and indebtedness at the household level. Sections of the report are presented as interactive graphs on the New York Fed's Household Debt and Credit Report web page and the full report is available for download.
