{"id":918305,"date":"2025-12-10T08:20:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T13:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/transunion-2026-outlook-moderate-credit-card-balance-growth-and-stable-delinquency-rates-signal-consumer-perseverance\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T08:20:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T13:20:07","slug":"transunion-2026-outlook-moderate-credit-card-balance-growth-and-stable-delinquency-rates-signal-consumer-perseverance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/transunion-2026-outlook-moderate-credit-card-balance-growth-and-stable-delinquency-rates-signal-consumer-perseverance\/","title":{"rendered":"TransUnion 2026 Outlook: Moderate Credit Card Balance Growth and Stable Delinquency Rates Signal Consumer Perseverance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nTransUnion also projects delinquency expectations for other major credit products during the next year
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CHICAGO, Dec. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) today released its 2026 Consumer Credit Forecast<\/a>, projecting credit card balances to grow 2.3% year over year (YoY)\u2014the smallest annual increase since 2013, excluding 2020 when pandemic relief programs caused a decline. This moderation reflects consumers navigating persistent economic uncertainty as lenders maintain disciplined underwriting standards.<\/p>\n

Credit card balances are expected to reach $1.18 trillion by the end of 2026, up from $1.16 trillion in 2025. This increase contrasts sharply with the double-digit growth of 2022 and 2023, but reflects the more modest pace of growth seen in more recent years. Lenders are cautiously expanding credit access for riskier consumer segments while prioritizing account management strategies to mitigate delinquency risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter elevated credit card balance growth over the last 5 years, credit card balance growth is expected to moderate driven by both measured spend growth by consumers and prudent credit extension by lenders,\u201d said Paul Siegfried, senior vice president and credit card business leader at TransUnion. \u201cWhile economic pressures remain, this trend suggests households are managing credit more responsibly\u2014a favorable sign as we move into 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Credit card delinquency rates are forecast to remain virtually flat, with the percentage of consumers 90 or more days past due (90+ DPD) inching up by just one basis point to 2.57%. This stability reflects tighter underwriting and proactive risk management by card issuers\u2014even as consumers contend with inflationary pressures and fluctuating interest rates.<\/p>\n

\n Credit Card Forecast: Small Balance Growth, Stable Delinquencies<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n Metric\/Year<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n\n 2019<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n\n 2020<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n\n 2021<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n\n 2022<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n\n 2023<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n\n 2024<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n\n
\n 2025*<\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/td>\n		\n
\n 2026*<\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n Year-End
Balances ($B)<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n		$847<\/td>\n$740<\/td>\n$785<\/td>\n$931<\/td>\n$1,048<\/td>\n$1,108<\/td>\n\n $<\/em>
\n 1,157<\/em>\n <\/td>\n		\n $<\/em>
\n 1,183<\/em>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n YoY %<\/strong>
\n
\n Change<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n		5.7%<\/td>\n-12.5%<\/td>\n6.1%<\/td>\n18.5%<\/td>\n12.6%<\/td>\n5.7%<\/td>\n\n 4.4<\/em>
\n %<\/em>\n <\/td>\n		\n 2.3<\/em>
\n %<\/em>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n Year-End 90+
DPD DQ Rate<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n		2.19%<\/td>\n1.30%<\/td>\n1.48%<\/td>\n2.26%<\/td>\n2.59%<\/td>\n2.56%<\/td>\n\n 2.56<\/em>
\n %<\/em>\n <\/td>\n		\n 2.57<\/em>
\n %<\/em>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\n *Forecasted<\/em>
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Source: TransUnion U.S. Consumer Credit Database<\/p>\n

The forecast reflects a complex backdrop: inflation remains above target at 2.45%, and unemployment is expected to rise slightly to 4.5% by late 2026, which could put strain on household budgets for certain borrowers. At the same time, multiple anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts over the next year should ease borrowing costs and provide some relief to consumers.<\/p>\n

\n Delinquency Trends Across Other Credit Products<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n