Outstanding household debt increased in the fourth quarter of 2015, rising by 0.4 percent to $12.12 trillion, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said today. The $51 billion quarterly increase was offset by relatively flat mortgage debt.
Overall delinquency rates improved in the fourth quarter, driven largely by mortgages. The aggregate 90-day delinquency rate edged down to 3.7 percent, and delinquencies in all loan categories improved or held steady in the fourth quarter. Outstanding debt in some stage of delinquency fell to its lowest rate in 8 years, 5.4 percent.