Markets · August 15, 2026 · 2 min read

New York Fed: Household Debt Edged Down to $18.8 Trillion in Q2 2026

Published August 15, 2026 • Updated August 21, 2026

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit said total U.S. household debt decreased by $13 billion, or 0.1%, to $18.8 trillion in the second quarter of 2026.

CONFIRMED FACTS The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Household Debt and Credit report states that total U.S. household debt decreased by $13 billion, or 0.1 percent, in the second quarter of 2026, reaching $18.8 trillion at the end of June. The report states that 4.7 percent of outstanding household debt was in some stage of delinquency, which it characterizes as a slight improvement in aggregate delinquency rates. It reports mortgage balances of $13.1 trillion and home-equity lines of credit balances of $459 billion at the end of June. The New York Fed says the report is based on its Consumer Credit Panel, a nationally representative random sample of Equifax credit-report data. Its background materials say the panel is used to calculate national and regional aggregate measures of credit balances and delinquencies by product type. ANALYSIS The quarter’s reported $13 billion decline is small relative to the $18.8 trillion aggregate balance. The figures describe reported balances and delinquency status in the credit-panel data; they do not measure household net worth, income, spending, or the financial condition of every household. UNKNOWNS AND LIMITS The report does not establish why aggregate debt changed, whether the change will continue, or how borrowing will affect consumer spending or the broader economy. Because the data are drawn from credit reports, the measures concern reported credit obligations and do not cover every type of household liability or asset. The reported aggregate delinquency share should not be interpreted as the share of households that are delinquent. UPDATE LOG Published August 15, 2026 after direct review of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s current Household Debt and Credit report and its methodology background page. The report covers the second quarter of 2026, ending in June.

Follow the data

Relevant directory links appear to be unassigned.

Sources

Federal Reserve Bank of New York — Household Debt and Credit, Q2 2026 — Primary source for the second-quarter total household-debt change and level, delinquency share, mortgage balance, and home-equity-line balance.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York — Household Debt and Credit Background — Methodology background explaining that the Consumer Credit Panel is a nationally representative random sample of Equifax credit-report data and describing its aggregate balance and delinquency measures.

Related News

U.S. Consumer Price Index Increases 0.4% in August 2026 as Energy Costs Accelerate

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in August 2026, up from 0.1 percent in July. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index grew 3.4 percent before seasonal adjustment, remaining unchanged from the annual pace recorded in July. Gasoline prices accounted for more than one-third of the monthly gain, rising 3.9 percent. Meanwhile, core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3 percent month-over-month and 2.4 percent on a 12-month basis.

U.S. Consumer Price Index Rises 0.4% in August as Gasoline Prices Accelerate Inflation

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased by 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in August 2026, accelerating from a 0.1 percent gain in July. On an unadjusted basis, the headline all-items index rose 3.4 percent over the 12 months ending August, matching the annual pace recorded in the prior month. The monthly increase was primarily driven by energy costs, as gasoline prices jumped 3.9 percent and accounted for over one-third of the headline monthly increase. Meanwhile, core CPI—which excludes food and energy components—rose 0.3 percent month-over-month and 2.4 percent year-over-year, reflecting modest upward pressure in shelter and transportation services.

U.S. Consumer Price Index Rose 0.4 Percent in August 2026 as Energy Costs Rebounded

The U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.4 percent month-over-month in August 2026 on a seasonally adjusted basis, driven significantly by a 3.9 percent surge in gasoline prices, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the 12 months ending August 2026, total CPI rose 3.4 percent unadjusted, matching the annual pace recorded in July. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, increased 0.3 percent for the month and 2.4 percent year-over-year.