Household Debt Service Ratio
Scheduled household debt payments as a share of disposable personal income
Where the Household Debt Service Ratio stands now
The Household Debt Service Ratio was 11.1% in the second quarter of 2026. Since 2005 it has ranged from 9.1% in the first quarter of 2021 to 15.8% in the fourth quarter of 2007. It has been lower than the quarter before for two quarters in a row.
What it means for households: U.S. Savings Rate & Emergency Fund Statistics Behind on Your Mortgage?
How the Household Debt Service Ratio has moved since 1980
Household Debt Service Ratio: little changed over the past year
Scheduled household debt payments as a percentage of disposable personal income: 11.1% in the second quarter of 2026, the same as a year earlier. Quarterly, 1980–2026.
What the Household Debt Service Ratio measures
A higher rate is worse for households.
How the Household Debt Service Ratio feeds the American Distress Index
The American Distress Index (ADI) is our quarterly 0–100 score of how much financial strain U.S. households are under. Debt burden is one of its five equal parts, and the Household Debt Service Ratio is the only debt-burden measure inside that part.
In the second quarter of 2026, the Household Debt Service Ratio was higher than in 21% of the quarters since 1980, so it held the score down. The index stood at 47.0, which we call Typical.
Household Debt Service Ratio by quarter, 1980 to 2026
Every quarter since 1980, newest first. The change compares each quarter with the same quarter a year earlier.
The source changed how it measures this in Q1 2005. Readings from 2005 on use the Federal Reserve Board's current method, which estimates debt payments from scheduled required payments in credit bureau data and includes mortgage escrow for property taxes and insurance. The Board states that quarterly values on the current method are available from 2005 forward. Earlier readings exist only on the previous method, which built payments from estimated balances, interest rates and loan terms. Where both methods cover the same quarters, the gap between them is not constant: about 0.6 to 2.9 percentage points. Figures on either side are not directly comparable, so the change column stays blank where a comparison would cross that date. Source documentation.
| Quarter | Rate (%) | Change from a year earlier (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2026 | 11.1 | 0.0 |
| Q1 2026 | 11.2 | +0.1 |
| Q4 2025 | 11.3 | +0.2 |
| Q3 2025 | 11.2 | +0.1 |
| Q2 2025 | 11.1 | +0.1 |
| Q1 2025 | 11.1 | 0.0 |
| Q4 2024 | 11.1 | 0.0 |
| Q3 2024 | 11.1 | +0.4 |
| Q2 2024 | 11.0 | +0.4 |
| Q1 2024 | 11.1 | +0.5 |
| Q4 2023 | 11.1 | +0.4 |
| Q3 2023 | 10.7 | +0.1 |
| Q2 2023 | 10.6 | −0.1 |
| Q1 2023 | 10.6 | +0.1 |
| Q4 2022 | 10.7 | +0.5 |
| Q3 2022 | 10.6 | +0.6 |
| Q2 2022 | 10.7 | +0.9 |
| Q1 2022 | 10.5 | +1.4 |
| Q4 2021 | 10.2 | −0.2 |
| Q3 2021 | 10.0 | −0.1 |
| Q2 2021 | 9.8 | +0.1 |
| Q1 2021 | 9.1 | −2.5 |
| Q4 2020 | 10.4 | −1.3 |
| Q3 2020 | 10.1 | −1.5 |
| Q2 2020 | 9.7 | −1.9 |
| Q1 2020 | 11.6 | +0.1 |
| Q4 2019 | 11.7 | 0.0 |
| Q3 2019 | 11.6 | 0.0 |
| Q2 2019 | 11.6 | 0.0 |
| Q1 2019 | 11.5 | −0.1 |
| Q4 2018 | 11.7 | −0.1 |
| Q3 2018 | 11.6 | −0.2 |
| Q2 2018 | 11.6 | −0.2 |
| Q1 2018 | 11.6 | −0.1 |
| Q4 2017 | 11.8 | −0.1 |
| Q3 2017 | 11.8 | 0.0 |
| Q2 2017 | 11.8 | 0.0 |
| Q1 2017 | 11.7 | −0.1 |
| Q4 2016 | 11.9 | +0.2 |
| Q3 2016 | 11.8 | +0.2 |
| Q2 2016 | 11.8 | +0.3 |
| Q1 2016 | 11.8 | +0.2 |
| Q4 2015 | 11.7 | +0.1 |
| Q3 2015 | 11.6 | 0.0 |
| Q2 2015 | 11.5 | −0.1 |
| Q1 2015 | 11.6 | −0.3 |
| Q4 2014 | 11.6 | −0.4 |
| Q3 2014 | 11.6 | −0.2 |
| Q2 2014 | 11.6 | −0.2 |
| Q1 2014 | 11.9 | −0.1 |
| Q4 2013 | 12.0 | +0.2 |
| Q3 2013 | 11.8 | −0.3 |
| Q2 2013 | 11.8 | −0.2 |
| Q1 2013 | 12.0 | −0.2 |
| Q4 2012 | 11.8 | −0.9 |
| Q3 2012 | 12.1 | −0.8 |
| Q2 2012 | 12.0 | −1.1 |
| Q1 2012 | 12.2 | −1.1 |
| Q4 2011 | 12.7 | −0.9 |
| Q3 2011 | 12.9 | −1.0 |
| Q2 2011 | 13.1 | −1.0 |
| Q1 2011 | 13.3 | −1.2 |
| Q4 2010 | 13.6 | −1.3 |
| Q3 2010 | 13.9 | −1.2 |
| Q2 2010 | 14.1 | −1.2 |
| Q1 2010 | 14.5 | −1.1 |
| Q4 2009 | 14.9 | −0.8 |
| Q3 2009 | 15.1 | −0.4 |
| Q2 2009 | 15.3 | 0.0 |
| Q1 2009 | 15.6 | −0.2 |
| Q4 2008 | 15.7 | −0.1 |
| Q3 2008 | 15.5 | −0.2 |
| Q2 2008 | 15.3 | −0.3 |
| Q1 2008 | 15.8 | +0.3 |
| Q4 2007 | 15.8 | +0.3 |
| Q3 2007 | 15.7 | +0.3 |
| Q2 2007 | 15.6 | +0.6 |
| Q1 2007 | 15.5 | +0.5 |
| Q4 2006 | 15.5 | +0.5 |
| Q3 2006 | 15.4 | +0.3 |
| Q2 2006 | 15.0 | +0.2 |
| Q1 2006 | 15.0 | +0.2 |
| Q4 2005 | 15.0 | — |
| Q3 2005 | 15.1 | — |
| Q2 2005 | 14.8 | — |
| Q1 2005 | 14.8 | — |
| Q4 2004 | 12.3 | +0.1 |
| Q3 2004 | 12.3 | +0.2 |
| Q2 2004 | 12.1 | −0.2 |
| Q1 2004 | 12.2 | −0.1 |
| Q4 2003 | 12.2 | −0.1 |
| Q3 2003 | 12.1 | −0.3 |
| Q2 2003 | 12.3 | 0.0 |
| Q1 2003 | 12.3 | −0.1 |
| Q4 2002 | 12.3 | −0.4 |
| Q3 2002 | 12.4 | +0.1 |
| Q2 2002 | 12.3 | −0.1 |
| Q1 2002 | 12.4 | +0.2 |
| Q4 2001 | 12.7 | +0.6 |
| Q3 2001 | 12.3 | +0.4 |
| Q2 2001 | 12.4 | +0.7 |
| Q1 2001 | 12.2 | +0.6 |
| Q4 2000 | 12.1 | +0.5 |
| Q3 2000 | 11.9 | +0.3 |
| Q2 2000 | 11.7 | +0.2 |
| Q1 2000 | 11.6 | +0.3 |
| Q4 1999 | 11.6 | +0.4 |
| Q3 1999 | 11.6 | +0.4 |
| Q2 1999 | 11.5 | +0.3 |
| Q1 1999 | 11.3 | +0.1 |
| Q4 1998 | 11.2 | −0.1 |
| Q3 1998 | 11.2 | −0.2 |
| Q2 1998 | 11.2 | −0.2 |
| Q1 1998 | 11.2 | −0.2 |
| Q4 1997 | 11.3 | −0.1 |
| Q3 1997 | 11.4 | +0.1 |
| Q2 1997 | 11.4 | +0.1 |
| Q1 1997 | 11.4 | +0.1 |
| Q4 1996 | 11.4 | +0.2 |
| Q3 1996 | 11.3 | +0.1 |
| Q2 1996 | 11.3 | +0.2 |
| Q1 1996 | 11.3 | +0.4 |
| Q4 1995 | 11.2 | +0.5 |
| Q3 1995 | 11.2 | +0.6 |
| Q2 1995 | 11.1 | +0.6 |
| Q1 1995 | 10.9 | +0.5 |
| Q4 1994 | 10.7 | +0.3 |
| Q3 1994 | 10.6 | +0.2 |
| Q2 1994 | 10.5 | +0.1 |
| Q1 1994 | 10.4 | 0.0 |
| Q4 1993 | 10.4 | −0.1 |
| Q3 1993 | 10.4 | −0.2 |
| Q2 1993 | 10.4 | −0.3 |
| Q1 1993 | 10.4 | −0.5 |
| Q4 1992 | 10.5 | −0.6 |
| Q3 1992 | 10.6 | −0.7 |
| Q2 1992 | 10.7 | −0.7 |
| Q1 1992 | 10.9 | −0.7 |
| Q4 1991 | 11.1 | −0.5 |
| Q3 1991 | 11.3 | −0.3 |
| Q2 1991 | 11.4 | −0.2 |
| Q1 1991 | 11.6 | −0.1 |
| Q4 1990 | 11.6 | −0.2 |
| Q3 1990 | 11.6 | −0.2 |
| Q2 1990 | 11.6 | −0.1 |
| Q1 1990 | 11.7 | +0.1 |
| Q4 1989 | 11.8 | +0.2 |
| Q3 1989 | 11.8 | +0.1 |
| Q2 1989 | 11.7 | 0.0 |
| Q1 1989 | 11.6 | −0.2 |
| Q4 1988 | 11.6 | −0.3 |
| Q3 1988 | 11.7 | −0.3 |
| Q2 1988 | 11.7 | −0.4 |
| Q1 1988 | 11.8 | −0.2 |
| Q4 1987 | 11.9 | −0.2 |
| Q3 1987 | 12.0 | +0.1 |
| Q2 1987 | 12.1 | +0.3 |
| Q1 1987 | 12.0 | +0.3 |
| Q4 1986 | 12.1 | +0.4 |
| Q3 1986 | 11.9 | +0.3 |
| Q2 1986 | 11.8 | +0.5 |
| Q1 1986 | 11.7 | +0.5 |
| Q4 1985 | 11.7 | +0.8 |
| Q3 1985 | 11.6 | +0.9 |
| Q2 1985 | 11.3 | +0.7 |
| Q1 1985 | 11.2 | +0.7 |
| Q4 1984 | 10.9 | +0.5 |
| Q3 1984 | 10.7 | +0.3 |
| Q2 1984 | 10.6 | +0.2 |
| Q1 1984 | 10.5 | +0.2 |
| Q4 1983 | 10.4 | 0.0 |
| Q3 1983 | 10.4 | 0.0 |
| Q2 1983 | 10.4 | −0.1 |
| Q1 1983 | 10.3 | −0.2 |
| Q4 1982 | 10.4 | 0.0 |
| Q3 1982 | 10.4 | +0.1 |
| Q2 1982 | 10.5 | +0.1 |
| Q1 1982 | 10.5 | +0.2 |
| Q4 1981 | 10.4 | +0.1 |
| Q3 1981 | 10.3 | −0.1 |
| Q2 1981 | 10.4 | −0.2 |
| Q1 1981 | 10.3 | −0.3 |
| Q4 1980 | 10.3 | — |
| Q3 1980 | 10.4 | — |
| Q2 1980 | 10.6 | — |
| Q1 1980 | 10.6 | — |
Quarterly · Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System data retrieved via FRED (BOGZ1FL010000346Q + TDSP)
Counties with the highest safety net and buffer scores
There's no county figure for this measure, so this list uses the safety net and buffer part of our County Distress Index.
| Rank | County | Score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choctaw County, OK | 94.8 |
| 2 | Stewart County, GA | 94.2 |
| 3 | Noxubee County, MS | 94.2 |
| 4 | Hudspeth County, TX | 94 |
| 5 | Brooks County, TX | 94 |
| 6 | Lake County, TN | 94 |
| 7 | Duval County, TX | 93.9 |
| 8 | Ripley County, MO | 93.5 |
| 9 | Dunklin County, MO | 93.3 |
| 10 | Quitman County, GA | 93.2 |
Questions about the Household Debt Service Ratio
What share of income goes to debt payments in the U.S.?
Scheduled debt payments equaled 11.1% of U.S. disposable personal income in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Federal Reserve Board. That covers mortgage payments, including escrowed taxes and insurance, auto and student loan payments, other consumer loans and credit card minimum payments. It is a total for all households, not the share for a typical family.
Is the debt service ratio rising or falling?
It was 11.1% in the second quarter of 2026, little changed from 11.2% in the first quarter of 2026. That matches the ratio a year earlier.
Can today's ratio be compared with the 1980s or with 2008?
Only back to 2005. The Board's current method starts in the first quarter of 2005, and it put the ratio at 15.8% in the fourth quarter of 2007, before the financial crisis. Figures for earlier years come from an older method that ran lower, so a line from 1980 to today joins two different measures.
Where does the debt service data come from?
The Federal Reserve Board estimates scheduled payments from a random sample of credit records and divides them by disposable personal income from the national accounts. We use the long-history series BOGZ1FL010000346Q from FRED and add newer TDSP quarters when TDSP is published first. The ratio is the only input to the Debt Burden domain of the American Distress Index.
Sources and method for the Household Debt Service Ratio
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System data retrieved via FRED (BOGZ1FL010000346Q + TDSP) We use the quarterly figures as published, from the first quarter of 1980 through the second quarter of 2026, with no adjustment of our own. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System’s report (1) Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System’s report (2)
- American Default Research · American Distress Index American Default Research uses this rate in the American Distress Index.
We write with assistance from AI tools. Figures come from the data and sources named on this page.