Bank lending and credit · United States
United States Total Household Debt
The United States Total Household Debt measures how much new credit banks extend, or how fast their loans or deposits grow, in the United States.
- Importance
- Medium
- Released
- Quarterly
- Next release
- Currency
- USD · US dollar
- Central bank
- The Federal Reserve
Latest figures
The latest release for Q2, published on 11 August 2026, came in at $18.8T.
| Released | For | Actual | Consensus | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 2026 | Q2 | $18.8T | – | $18.8T |
| 12 May 2026 | Q1 | $18.8T | – | $18.8T |
| 10 Feb 2026 | Q4 | $18.8T | – | $18.59T |
| 5 Nov 2025 | Q3 | $18.59T | – | $18.39T |
| 5 Aug 2025 | Q2 | $18.39T | – | $18.20T |
| 13 May 2025 | Q1 | $18.20T | – | $18.04T |
| 13 Feb 2025 | Q4 | $18.04T | – | $17.9T |
Why it matters
Credit is the fuel of spending and investment. Strong lending growth means households and companies are confident and that monetary policy is passing through; a credit slowdown often precedes a slowdown in activity. In China, new loans and total social financing are among the most watched signs of stimulus.
How it is calculated
Banks report the outstanding stock of loans to the central bank; the release shows the change over the month or the growth from a year earlier.
What changes mean
- Rising credit growth supports the growth outlook and the US dollar.
- A sudden drop in lending can signal tighter bank standards or weak demand.
- Compare with interest rates: credit should slow after hikes; if it does not, more tightening may follow.
Higher than expected: A stronger figure than expected points to a healthier economy: it usually supports the US dollar and local stocks, and can push bond yields up.
Lower than expected: A weaker figure than expected points to slowing activity: the US dollar tends to soften and markets price in lower rates.
A short history
Credit cycles were described by economists such as Hyman Minsky; after the 2008 financial crisis regulators began to track credit growth closely as an early warning of booms and busts.
Questions
What is the United States Total Household Debt?
The United States Total Household Debt measures how much new credit banks extend, or how fast their loans or deposits grow, in the United States.
What was the latest United States Total Household Debt?
$18.8T for Q2, published on 11 August 2026.
When is the next United States Total Household Debt?
On Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 16:00 UTC.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.