- 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.
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