U.S. Consumer Debt Reaches $18.56 Trillion in Q3 2026 Driven by Mortgage and HELOC Growth
Total U.S. consumer debt rose 2.9% year-over-year to $18.56 trillion in September 2026, according to data from Equifax. The increase was primarily fueled by mortgage obligations, which reached $13.08 trillion, and a significant 13.3% surge in Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) balances, which climbed to $461.9 billion. Despite the rising debt levels, non-mortgage portfolios showed signs of stability. Year-to-date non-mortgage write-offs remained nearly flat at $104.9 billion compared to the previous year, and severe delinquency rates for bankcards and auto loans saw slight declines. While these metrics suggest consumer resilience, analysts note that elevated borrowing costs continue to create financial friction for lower-income households.
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Topics: consumer debt credit trends debt write-offs HELOC mortgage debt