The probability that American consumers will miss the minimum repayment amount within the next 3 months is 15.3%, the highest level since April 2020.

This is also the second-highest reading since the peak in 2013.

The largest increase is among respondents over 60 years old and those with a high school education or less.

Households with an annual income below $50,000 report the highest default risk at 22.5%.

Since February 2022, as consumer financial difficulties have worsened, consumer debt default expectations have surged by 6.1 percentage points.

Meanwhile, U.S. household debt soared by $197 billion in the third quarter of 2025, reaching a record $18.59 trillion.