Consumers Not Too Stressed. Yet. 8/19/26

Summary

CNBC's Your Money Minute reviews New York Fed second-quarter data showing American consumer credit stress is not horrible, with little sign of broad stress despite higher inflation and lackluster job growth. Gains in home equity, credit, and auto loan debt were mostly in line with prior trends. Thirty-day delinquencies are rising for mortgages and auto loans, but the 90-plus-day delinquency flow has stayed flat for almost two years. Steve Liesman notes spring tax refunds may have temporarily helped and warns that support may be running out.

• New York Fed data show little sign of U.S. consumer credit stress.
• Home equity, credit, and auto loan debt gains were not far out of line with prior trends.
• Thirty-day delinquencies are rising for mortgages and auto loans.
• The flow of debt into 90-plus-day delinquency has been flat for almost two years.
• Spring tax refunds may have helped consumers keep debt problems under control.
• The key question is whether consumer stress rises once refund support fades.