American consumers are falling behind on their credit card payments at levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
About 13% of all U.S. credit card balances were at least 90 days overdue in the first quarter of 2026, the highest delinquency level since 2011.
The report also notes that America's total credit card debt has reached $1.25 trillion, close to the highest level ever recorded.
Experts say a growing number of consumers have fallen into serious credit card debt and are finding it difficult to recover.
Credit card debt was falling during the pandemic but began rising again as inflation and borrowing costs increased.
Financial experts say many cardholders continue to struggle because prices remain high and credit card interest rates are still elevated, averaging about 21% in February 2026.
Despite rising debt concerns, millions of Americans are handling their credit cards responsibly, with around half of all U.S. credit card holders carrying debt from month to month.
