US consumer credit debt rises as households use cards for essentials

Recent data highlights a growing reliance on credit cards among Americans to cover essential living expenses. A survey commissioned by Accredited Debt Relief and conducted by Atomik Research found that 66% of U.S. adults carrying at least $10,000 in unsecured debt used credit cards for groceries in the past year. Other essential uses include gas or transportation (47%), utilities (45%), and rent or housing (33%).

Financial data from Experian shows that average credit card debt varies significantly by age group. Gen X carries the highest average balance at $9,600, often due to simultaneous costs like mortgages, childcare, and eldercare. Millennials follow with an average of $6,961, while Baby Boomers average $6,795. Gen Z and the Silent Generation carry the lowest balances, at approximately $3,493 and $3,445, respectively.

Researchers note that for many, credit has shifted from a tool for large or secure purchases to a routine method for managing monthly household needs. Nearly 30% of respondents report relying on borrowing to get through a typical month, a trend that one-third of participants say has increased over the last year.