US Consumer Debt Accelerates to $18.2 Trillion in Late 2025, Report Reveals

US consumer debt continued its upward climb through the end of 2025, with growth gaining momentum in the final months of the year, according to Equifax’s (NYSE: EFX) National Market Pulse report released February 24, 2026. The credit analytics firm’s proprietary data shows total consumer debt balances reached $18.20 trillion by December, up 3.7% from a year earlier—the sharpest monthly acceleration compared to the same periods in 2023 and 2024.This figure aligns with broader measures from the Federal Reserv ...