- A Federal Reserve survey revealed that nearly 20% of U.S. households are currently behind on loan payments, up from 12 percent in 2022.
- The number of families at least two months late on bills has jumped 60 percent over three years, reaching rates unseen since the 2008 Great Recession .
- Median household debt increased from $170,200 in 2022 to $183,600 in 2025 across credit cards, student loans, and mortgages.
- Financial distress is largely driven by a 39 percent increase in the cost of living since 2016, which has significantly outpaced income growth.
- Consumer confidence in the economy fell to a 12-year low in September, with 40 percent of households worried about affording basic essentials.
IN FULL
US families are behind on bills at rate not seen since Great Recession of 2008
