Holiday shopping returned with a vengeance this year. But going into debt is one gift you can’t return.
After Americans paid off a record $83 billion in credit card debt in 2020, helped by government stimulus checks and fewer opportunities for discretionary purchases, credit card balances are heading higher once again.
Overall, credit card balances rose by $17 billion in the third quarter of 2021, according to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
In the fourth quarter, fueled by the return of holiday plans, consumers charged billions more.
Balances are expected to continue to rise in 2022, ending the first quarter as much as 10% higher than a year ago, as more consumers apply for credit and increase their spending, according to a forecast by TransUnion. Usually, card balances decline in the first months of the year as borrowers pay off their holiday spending.
By the fourth quarter of 2022, total balances are expected to reach $805.7 billion, TransUnion found — the highest level since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic
“The consumer landscape is starting to more closely resemble the pre-pandemic era,” said Charlie Wise, head of global research and consulting at TransUnion. “With forbearance programs expiring and stimulus funds drying up, demand for credit is growing.”
However, credit card debt is particularly hard to pay down, especially with the average annual percentage rate at more than 16%.
Eric Ellman, a senior vice president of public policy and legal affairs for the Consumer Data Industry Association, advises shoppers to be thoughtful about any new debt obligations that they take on this year.
“When consumers get in over their heads, there are some obvious implications,” he said. “Their credit scores could go down and that could increase the cost of future borrowing.”
