Core Insights - Household debt balances rose by $197 billion in Q3, reaching a new record of $18.6 trillion, indicating a modest increase [1] - Delinquencies have risen, particularly in credit cards and student loans, with 9.4% of all student loan debt being 90 days or more delinquent, down from 10.2% in Q2 but still elevated [3][4] Household Debt Overview - Mortgage, student loan, and credit card debts all saw modest increases, while auto loan debt remained flat [2] - Serious delinquency rates, defined as 90 days or more overdue, are highest among the 30 to 39 and 40 to 49 age groups, with a concentration in lower-income and younger populations [3] Economic Indicators - The services sector showed some growth in new orders, but overall employment has contracted for five consecutive months, indicating mixed signals in the economy [5][6] - The Federal Reserve is facing uncertainty regarding the economy's strength, with conflicting data making it difficult to determine whether to raise or cut interest rates [7][8]

Core Insights - Overall U.S. household debt levels increased by 1% or $197 billion in Q3, reaching $18.6 trillion, with a year-over-year increase of $642 billion [1][2] Borrowing Categories - Mortgage balances rose by $137 billion to $13.1 trillion, credit card balances increased by $24 billion to $1.23 trillion, and student loans grew by $15 billion to $1.65 trillion, while auto loan borrowing remained stable at $1.66 trillion [2] - The overall household debt balances are growing at a moderate pace, with delinquency rates stabilizing [2] Economic Conditions - The current state of the economy shows a softening labor market, with rising unemployment rates particularly affecting younger borrowers and Black and Hispanic borrowers, raising concerns about potential increases in delinquency rates [3] Student Loan Stress - Approximately 4.5% of all debt was in some form of trouble in Q3, with serious distress increasing across various borrowing types, excluding mortgage balances [4] - Student loans showed the largest transition into serious delinquency, with a transition rate of 14.3% in Q3, up from 0.77% a year ago [5][6] - 9.4% of total student loan debt was more than 90 days delinquent or in default, a decrease from 10.2% in Q2 but an increase from 7.8% in Q1 [6]