Rising Credit Card Balances and Minimum Payments
Rising credit card balances and a record number of people making only minimum payments signal growing financial strain for consumers. In the third quarter of 2024, 10.75% of active credit card accounts paid only the minimum balance, the highest rate in 12 years, reflecting increasing reliance on credit cards amid higher costs for merchandise and inflation. Revolving credit card balances hit $645 billion, representing 71% of total card balances, with delinquencies also rising. Higher Fed rates have made it more expensive for consumers to carry balances, tightening credit access as banks adopt stricter lending standards.