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Credit card delinquency rate

Credit card delinquency rate is 2.9% and has held roughly steady over the last 3 months. That is in its normal range: higher than 56% of readings since 2006.

Latest (latest reading)

2.9%

As of

Q2 2026

3-month change

−0.10 % pts

1-year change

−0.19 % pts

20-year percentile

56th

20-year median

2.7%

Monthly averages, last 20 years. Shaded band = the middle half of readings.

What it is. Share of credit card balances behind on payments. A higher reading means more credit stress in the Credit reading.

What it affects next

It is close to normal and not moving much, so there is no ripple to trace right now.

What is driving it

None of its tested drivers is moving much right now.

All tested links

Unemployment ratedrivesCredit card delinquency rateMixed evidence
Job losses make it harder to keep up with payments. Typical lag: 1-4 quarters. The strongest pattern runs the other way: correlation -0.45 6 quarters later (122 observations since 1996).
Credit card delinquency ratesignalsRetail salesData agrees
Rising delinquencies hint at stretched households and slower spending. Typical lag: 1-3 quarters. Strongest match in the same period (correlation -0.52, 122 observations since 1996).
Credit card lending standardsleadsCredit card delinquency rateData agrees
When banks cut off credit card access, stretched borrowers can't roll balances and more fall behind. Typical lag: 3-9 months. Strongest match 2 quarters later (correlation 0.60, 116 observations since 1997).

Source: Federal Reserve via FRED (series DRCCLACBS).