Credit Card Debt

Credit Card Debt: Results of a study from Northwestern Mutual on personal debt.

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Key Takeaways

  • Americans with personal debt allocate 30% of monthly income to debt repayment—evaluate if your debt service ratio exceeds this benchmark and consider accelerating payoff strategies
  • Credit card debt accounts for more than double any other personal debt source—prioritize paying down high-interest credit card balances before tackling other debts
  • The average American carries $21,800 in non-mortgage personal debt—calculate your own debt total to understand where you stand relative to national averages and set realistic reduction goals
  • 35% of Americans report being at or near their highest debt levels ever—assess whether you're in this group and implement immediate spending cuts or debt consolidation strategies

Credit Card Debt: Results of a study from Northwestern Mutual on personal debt. The research finds Americans who carry personal debt owe an average of $21,800, exclusive of mortgages. The study also found that more than a third (35%) of Americans who have personal debt say they’re carrying close to or at their highest level of debt ever. At the same time, more than four in ten (43%) say they’re carrying close to or at their lowest level of debt ever. Additionally, the research reveals the primary source of personal debt in America is credit card debt, accounting for more than double any other single source of personal debt. And people who carry personal debt say 30% of their monthly income goes toward paying it off. Watch more videos about Managing Debt on finStream at this link: https://www.finstream.tv/videos/managing-debt/

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