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However, delinquency rates are still near historic lows. The average delinquency rate since the Fed began tracking in 1991 is 3.69%, while the average since 2000 is 3.43%. Existing delinquency rates also remain well below Great Economic downturn levels, when they peaked at nearly 7% in 2009 and remained above 5% for practically two years.

A new report from The Century Foundation (TCF) and Secure Debtors reveals the shocking impact of President Donald Trump's cost crisis on Americans' finances, as an analysis of customer credit data reveals that approximately half of active cardholders and 40 percent of U.S. adults are not able to pay their credit card costs in complete and carry a balance from month to month.

Of that group, more than 27 million Americans can only manage the minimum payment monthly. The report in addition discovers that Americans have paid a record-setting quantity of interest as a result of charge card banks doubling their revenue margins over the last 2 years. Americans have paid a cumulative overall of $2.1 trillion in credit card interest since 2010, which is more than the overall quantity of exceptional student financial obligation, and the total amount of auto loan financial obligation, owed at the end of 2025.

" Regardless of assuring to decrease expenses 'on day one', Donald Trump is forcing Americans to pay more on everything from groceries to energies to health care and kid care. Households are falling further behind on their costs with charge card delinquencies at their greatest rate in more than a years," "Donald Trump might deal with Congress to provide on his pledge to cap credit card interest rates at 10% saving the typical American with charge card debt about $900 a year.

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" Banks have utilized rate of interest to pad their bottom line while 40 percent of Americans can't keep up with their charge card costs. We require our leaders to walk the walk when it comes to reining in these enormous banks and business, not simply talk the talk." "Grocery, energy, and healthcare bills are piling up, and Americans are increasingly turning to credit cardssome carrying rate of interest going beyond 22 percentjust to make ends meet," "President Trump assured to tackle squashing charge card rate of interest by January 20 of this year, but that deadline has actually reoccured.

Indiscriminate tariffs and uncontrolled business greed have raised the expense of whatever from groceries to clothes to utility costs, and the administration's signature legal proposition focused not on lowering expenses, however rather on lavishing generous tax cuts on industries and the richest Americans. Earlier this year, in an effort to stem his self-created affordability crisis, Trump guaranteed that by January 20, he would top credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, but more than a month past his self-imposed deadline, has failed to do soand stopped working to resolve charge card interest at his lengthy State of the Union address.

Further, the Trump-controlled Consumer Financial Defense Bureau (CFPB) has enabled the nation's most significant banks to continue charging Americans huge charge card late fees that tally more than $17 billion each year, according to the CFPB's own December 2025 report. The joint TCF/Protect Borrowers analysis reveals further unpleasant patterns behind Americans' increasing reliance on high-interest charge card.

Borrowers of color are also disproportionately falling behind, exposed to inflated rates of interest, and most likely to be forced to turn to alternative and more predatory sources of credit. ### (previously Student Customer Defense Center) is a nonprofit organization led by a team of professionals, lawyers, and advocates combating to construct an economy where financial obligation doesn't restrict opportunity.

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We aim to provide instant relief to households while developing power, driving systemic change, and fighting for racial and financial justice. Find out more at or follow us on social. The Century Structure (TCF) is a progressive, independent think tank that performs research, develops services, and drives policy change to make individuals's lives better.