The average credit card debt of U.S. families is $6,270, according to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances.
If you have credit card debt, you're not alone. On average, Americans carry $6,194 in credit card debt, according to the 2019 Experian Consumer Credit Review.
According to a 2020 Experian study, the average American carries $92,727 in consumer debt. Consumer debt includes a variety of personal credit accounts, such as credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, personal loans, and student loans.
And yet, over half of Americans surveyed (53%) say that debt reduction is a top priority—while nearly a quarter (23%) say they have no debt. And that percentage may rise.
So how much non-mortgage debt do Americans have? According to Northwestern Mutual's 2021 Planning & Progress Study, U.S. adults aged 18 and over who carry debt hold an average of $23,325 outside of their mortgages.
What's considered a “normal” credit limit in the U.S.? While limits may vary by age and location, on average Americans have a total credit limit of $22,751 across all their credit cards, according to the latest 2019 Experian data.
Highlights: Credit scores are three-digit numbers that show an important piece of your financial history. Credit scores help lenders decide whether to grant you credit. The average credit score in the United States is 698, based on VantageScore® data from February 2021.
44% Pay Off Their Full Credit Card Balance, Survey Finds: Pros and Cons of This Strategy. GOBankingRates recently surveyed more than 1,000 American adults about their credit-card habits — and the results revealed some promising trends.
Credit bureaus suggest that five or more accounts — which can be a mix of cards and loans — is a reasonable number to build toward over time. Having very few accounts can make it hard for scoring models to render a score for you.
Americans carried a balance on 53% of all active credit card accounts in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the most recent available data from the American Bankers Association. Job No. 1 for anyone with a credit card is to pay off that balance in full at the end of each month.
And according to data from the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances by the US Federal Reserve, the most recent year for which they polled participants, Americans have a weighted average savings account balance of $41,600 which includes checking, savings, money market and prepaid debit cards, while the median was only ...
Still, a credit score isn't necessarily one of those issues, and many incredibly rich people have average credit; for example, billionaire investor Warren Buffett's FICO score is just 718, according to Fortune Magazine.
Most lenders consider an 800 FICO® Score to be an exceptional score. About 21.8% of America has a credit score higher than 800 points. If you have a credit score of 800, it likely means that you manage debt well and never miss a loan payment.
State Averages
Minnesota has the highest average credit score at 742. Mississippi has the lowest average credit score at 681.
Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.
In the U.S., Gen Z credit cardholders have an average of 1.5 credit cards, which is lower than the average American's four credit cards. The median credit card balance is $606 and cardholders have roughly a 31% utilization rate (the total amount of credit you're using compared to your total credit limit).
Yes a $10,000 credit limit is good for a credit card. Most credit card offers have much lower minimum credit limits than that, since $10,000 credit limits are generally for people with excellent credit scores and high income.
Here's the average debt balances by age group: Gen Z (ages 18 to 23): $9,593. Millennials (ages 24 to 39): $78,396. Gen X (ages 40 to 55): $135,841.
Kevin O'Leary, an investor on “Shark Tank” and personal finance author, said in 2018 that the ideal age to be debt-free is 45. It's at this age, said O'Leary, that you enter the last half of your career and should therefore ramp up your retirement savings in order to ensure a comfortable life in your elderly years.
Our recommendation is to prioritize paying down significant debt while making small contributions to your savings. Once you've paid off your debt, you can then more aggressively build your savings by contributing the full amount you were previously paying each month toward debt.
Is being debt-free the new rich? Yes, as long as you have money and assets, in addition to no debts. Living loan-free is a fantastic way to stay financially secure, and it is possible for anyone. While there are a couple of downsides to being debt-free, they are minimal.
Being debt free to start with means having minimal to no bad debts and average good debts. Being debt free doesn't mean you have no mortgage, bills, or car payment. It means you carry a manageable amount of debt, and are cognizant of your borrowing and DTI.