Household debt in the United States increased in the first quarter of 2022, reaching $15.84 trillion despite rising inflation and interest rates, according to a report on Household Debt and Credit published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
That’s $1.7 trillion more than at the end of 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the May 10 report stated (pdf).
“Mortgage balances shown on consumer credit reports increased by $250 billion during the first quarter of 2022 and stood at $11.18 trillion at the end of March. … Non-housing balances grew by $17 billion, boosted additionally by a $7 billion increase in other balances, which include consumer finance loans, retail cards, and unclassified loans,” the report states.