U.S. Families’ Debt Delinquencies Hit Highest Level Since 2010

The share of U.S. families behind on loan payments rose to its highest level since 2010 during the three-year period ended 2025, even as household net worth increased overall.

Nearly 20% of families were behind on loan payments at the end of the period, compared with about 12% in the previous survey. The share behind by at least two months rose above 8%, up from 5% in 2022.

Families with payment-to-income ratios above 40% also increased to 8.6% from 6.5% in 2022, reaching the highest level since 2013. The measure covers the portion of income used for debt payments.

The period included continued economic growth and inflation rates not seen since the early 1980s. Real median family income rose 7%, while average income declined 6%.

Net-worth gains were concentrated among higher earners. Inflation-adjusted average net worth increased 7% to $1.24 million, while median net worth rose 2% to $215,900.

The top income group recorded a 31% increase in median net worth. By contrast, median net worth for families in the bottom quarter of the income distribution fell 6%, while their average net worth declined 4%.

The findings add to the broader picture of household finances.

Families with a college degree had median income 1.9 times that of families with some college education and nearly three times their median net worth.

Income gains were strongest among families ages 75 and older, while income fell 25% for families ages 35 to 44. Median and average income also declined among Black non-Hispanic families, Asian families and households near the top of the income and net-worth distributions.