Fed Reports 9.1% Revolving Debt Surge, Highest Since 2022

2 articles · Updated · PaymentsJournal · May 8

March revolving debt grew at a 9.1% annualized rate, the Federal Reserve said, a sharp jump from 2.0% in January and 0.3% in February.
Gasoline averaging $4.55 a gallon versus $3.15 a year earlier is squeezing household budgets, pushing more consumers to carry balances instead of paying cards off monthly.
That shift can lift issuer revenue through interest and interchange on roughly $1.3 trillion in revolving credit, but it also points to higher delinquencies and charge-offs in the third and fourth quarters of 2026.
Lenders are being urged to watch for weakening FICO scores, new revolvers and more spending on essentials, and to consider tightening credit lines before stress worsens.

As delinquencies hit a decade high, are banks preparing for a wave of defaults by quietly tightening consumer credit?

With savings gone and debt soaring, are Americans trapped in a permanent cycle of debt to afford basic necessities?

The Mideast conflict is fueling US inflation. How prepared is America's supply chain for the next global crisis?