New York Fed data shows that US credit card balances have increased from $1.21 trillion to $1.26 trillion since Q2 2025. Experian data also indicates a slight rise in the average consumer credit card balance from $6,618 in 2025 to $6,659. Analysis suggests this trend reflects a K-shaped economic divergence: high-income consumers are more willing to take on debt to achieve their goals, while low-income consumers may accumulate debt out of necessity for living expenses, or may not have access to credit at all.