Missouri Financial Distress Profile 2026
Household debt, delinquency rates, and foreclosure law summary for Missouri — compared to national averages. Data from the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel, Q4 2025.
Last updated: 2026-03-09
How Does Missouri Compare to the National Average?
Missouri is above the national average on 1 of 5 key household distress metrics. Credit card delinquency stands at 11.3% (below the 12.4% national rate), auto loan delinquency at 5.5%, and total debt per capita at $49,420.
Since 2019, credit card delinquency in Missouri has risen 3.7pp and total household debt has grown 22.4%. Most metrics remain below the national baseline.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Missouri
Component Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 59.0 (Elevated). Missouri's State Distress Index of 47.6 (Normal) is computed from 6 data dimensions covering debt performance, economic need, bankruptcy filings, employment, consumer complaints, and safety net strength.
Missouri vs. National Average
Delinquency rates measure the share of loan accounts 30 or more days past due. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per capita, adjusted for state population.
Download all states (CSV)Missouri vs. National: 5 Key Metrics (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
States ranked closest to Missouri (#30) on the State Distress Index. Peer comparison reveals whether distress patterns are regional or structural.
| State | ADI Score | Zone | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 47.6 | Normal | Legal Filings |
| Indiana | 49.5 | Normal | Legal Filings |
| North Carolina | 48.6 | Normal | Debt Stress |
| Washington | 46.9 | Normal | Labor Market |
Change Since 2019
Pre-pandemic 2019 values provide a baseline for how distress has evolved. Credit card and auto loan delinquency have risen sharply in most states since pandemic-era forbearance protections expired.
| Metric | 2019 | 2025 | Change | Nat'l 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 7.7% | 11.3% | +3.7pp | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 4.8% | 5.5% | +0.8pp | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.77% | 0.84% | +0.1pp | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Capita | $40,380 | $49,420 | +22.4% | $63,200 |
| CC Balance per Capita | $2,800 | $3,550 | +26.8% | $4,350 |
Missouri Foreclosure Law Summary
Understanding your state's foreclosure process is critical if you fall behind on mortgage payments. Missouri primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure.
Missouri is a non-judicial foreclosure state. Most home foreclosures proceed as trustee's sales under the power of sale in the deed of trust (RSMo § 443.290 et seq.), with no court involvement.
Full Missouri foreclosure law guide →Strong Safety Net as Partial Buffer
Despite mixed signals in the data, Missouri's safety net score of 56.2 (Moderate) provides a partial buffer that many states lack. Medicaid covers 16.9% of the population, the Homeowner Assistance Fund remains active, and state foreclosure protections add additional guardrails. Even so, the Distress Index reads 47.6 (Normal) — safety nets slow crises, they don't prevent them.
CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Missouri
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 5,298 mortgage complaints from Missouri since 2012 — 85.5 per 100,000 residents, below the national rate of 129.3 per 100K. Missouri ranks #33 of 51 jurisdictions for complaint density.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 256 | 278 | 293 | 288 | 248 | 317 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Missouri
Bankruptcy filings reflect the downstream consequence of sustained financial distress — when households exhaust savings, fall behind on debt, and run out of alternatives. Missouri's filing rate exceeds the national average.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 Census population estimates.
Credit Distress: Missouri
The Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer tracks credit health metrics from Equifax data. 16.6% of Missouri residents have debt in collections — above the national rate of 13.9%. 17.5% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 40.0% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. 2025 Q1.
Economic Context: Missouri
SNAP enrollment and unemployment rates provide upstream context for household debt distress. Higher food assistance enrollment signals that more families are struggling with basic expenses, while elevated unemployment directly reduces income available for debt service.
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Missouri
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Missouri scores 56.2 out of 100 (Moderate), ranking #20 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, 2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Missouri?
The credit card delinquency rate in Missouri is 11.3% as of Q4 2025, ranking #26 among all states and DC. The national average is 12.4%. This rate has risen from 7.7% in 2019.
How does Missouri's household debt compare to the national average?
Missouri residents carry $49,420 in total debt per capita, below the national average of $63,200. Debt per capita has grown 22.4% since 2019. Missouri ranks #37 nationally for total household debt per capita.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Missouri?
Auto loan delinquency in Missouri stands at 5.5% as of Q4 2025, above the national rate of 5.2%. This ranks #19 nationally. The rate has risen from 4.8% in 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Missouri use?
Missouri primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure. This allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings, resulting in a faster process. See our full Missouri foreclosure law guide for timelines, protections, and legal resources.
Is Missouri above or below the national average for financial distress?
Missouri scores 47.6 on the State Distress Index (Normal), ranking #30 of 51 jurisdictions. This composite score is built from 6 data dimensions: debt delinquency rates, SNAP enrollment, bankruptcy filings, unemployment, CFPB complaints, and safety net strength. The national American Distress Index reads 59.0 (Elevated).
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Missouri?
The CFPB has received 5,298 mortgage complaints from Missouri since 2012, a rate of 85.5 per 100,000 residents. This ranks #33 of 51 jurisdictions. The national average is 129.3 per 100K. Companies responded to 98.4% of Missouri complaints within the required timeframe.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Missouri?
Missouri had 10,613 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, a rate of 171.3 per 100,000 residents — above the national rate of 169.1 per 100K. This ranks #22 of 51 jurisdictions. Chapter 7 filings account for 56% and Chapter 13 for 43.2%. Filings changed +10.9% year-over-year.
What percentage of people in Missouri have debt in collections?
16.6% of individuals in Missouri have debt in collections, above the national rate of 13.9%. This ranks #14 of 51 jurisdictions. Additionally, 17.5% of Missouri residents have subprime credit scores (below 620), compared to 16.9% nationally. Data from the Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax).
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Missouri?
642,563 residents of Missouri receive SNAP benefits, an enrollment rate of 10.3% — below the national rate of 11.9%. This ranks #28 of 51 jurisdictions. SNAP participation has changed -4.1% year-over-year. The pre-pandemic rate was 10.7%.
How strong is Missouri's financial safety net?
Missouri scores 56.2 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #20 of 51 jurisdictions (Moderate). The score combines Medicaid coverage (16.9% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (10.3%), Homeowner Assistance Fund status (active), and foreclosure legal protections. The national average is 49.3.
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Updated quarterly.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five statistically derived components. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Missouri Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, and state foreclosure legal protections.