US household debt grew by 2.4%, or $394 billion, to reach $16.90 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to the latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Research and Statistics Group.
Household debt has increased by $2.75 trillion since the end of 2019, just before the pandemic recession, the report noted.
Mortgage balances rose by $254 billion during the fourth quarter of 2022 to $11.92 trillion, marking a nearly $1 trillion increase during the year.
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Notably, credit card balances increased by $61 billion to reach $986 billion, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of $927 billion.
Auto loan balances increased by $28 billion, continuing the upward trajectory observed since 2011, the report said.
Student loan balances ended the quarter at $1.60 trillion, up $21 billion from the previous quarter.
Other balances, including retail cards and other consumer loans, increased by $16 billion. In total, non-housing balances grew by $126 billion.
The share of current debt transitioning into delinquency increased for nearly all debt types, the report noted.
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