New data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia shows that 0.9% of credit card accounts in the U.S. were 90 days past due in the fourth quarter of last year, a 12-year high since the Philly Fed began tracking quarterly, while data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that consumers are more stressed about their job security and their financial situations are not improving.
- At the same time, about 11.12% of active card accounts paid only the minimum amount due in Q4, surpassing the previous high and indicating heightened consumer stress.
- Overall credit card balances collectively rose 4% over the same period, reaching $951.03 billion.
Why it matters: Professionals at debt collection agencies, debt buyers, fintechs, and lenders are watching these delinquency trends closely. Higher delinquency rates — and a growing share of consumers paying just the minimum — often signal future challenges in account recovery. It can also lead to more accounts entering the collections pipeline sooner, reinforcing the need for proactive engagement strategies.
By the numbers:
- Despite rising delinquencies, 30-day and 60-day past-due rates dipped slightly year-over-year.
- Large banks are extending more generous credit limits, but primarily at the top end of the credit spectrum. The 90th percentile’s credit limit jumped $1,000 year-over-year to $19,500, while the 50th percentile stayed flat at $5,000.
- Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s March 2025 Survey of Consumer Expectations points to increased short-term inflation concerns and a rise in perceived job-loss risk, factors that could strain household finances even more in coming months. Nearly 16% of consumers fear they are going to lose their jobs, which is up from 12% in December.
Between the lines:
