• Mortgage balances shown on consumer credit reports grew slightly by $21 billion during the first quarter of 2026 and totaled $13.19 trillion at the end of March. Balances on home equity lines of credit (HELOC) rose by $12 billion, marking the 16th consecutive quarterly increase. Outstanding HELOC balances now total $446 billion, $129 billion above the low reached in 2022Q1. Non-housing debt balances declined by $15 billion, or 0.3%, from 2025Q4. This decline was driven primarily by a seasonal decrease in credit card balances, which fell by $25 billion and now stand at $1.25 trillion. Auto loan balances grew by $18 billion, to $1.69 trillion. Other balances, which include retail cards and consumer finance loans, edged down by $2 billion to $562 billion. Student loan balances were essentially flat, decreasing by $6 billion and standing at $1.66 trillion.

Non-housing debt balances declined by $15 billion, or 0.3%, from 2025Q4. This decline was driven primarily by a seasonal decrease in credit card balances, which fell by $25 billion and now stand at $1.25 trillion. Auto loan balances grew by $18 billion, to $1.69 trillion. Other balances, which include retail cards and consumer finance loans, edged down by $2 billion to $562 billion. Student loan balances were essentially flat, decreasing by $6 billion and standing at $1.66 trillion.

Aggregate delinquency rates were flat in the first quarter of 2026. As of the end of March, 4.8% of outstanding debt was in some stage of delinquency, roughly the same as the share from 2025Q4. Transition into early delinquency held steady for auto loans, but ticked down for credit cards, from 8.7% annually to 8.6%, and for mortgages from 3.9% to 3.8%. Transition rates into serious delinquency were mostly unchanged for auto loans and credit cards, but increased slightly for mortgages from 1.4% annually to 1.5%.

Technical Notes
Data Dictionary