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Makin' Money

Household debts: Half-empty or half-full?

Chris Farrell Aug 15, 2011

Is the household money glass half full or half empty? The Federal Reserve’s latest quarterly survey (second quarter, 2011) shows that households are making progress at reducing their debt burdens. Borrowing rates remain below the peak years of 2003 to 2007 for many loans, too. Considering the recession, the anemic recovery, the worst labor market since the 1930s, and little to no wage increases, it’s remarkable how much better off are households.

Problem is, far too many people are still financially vulnerable in an economy that’s crawling along at best. The need to shed debt–either voluntarily by paying it down or involuntarily through write-offs–is strong.

In other words, don’t look to the consumer to boost the economy by whipping out their credit cards or taking out a home equity loan anytime soon. People need to owe less and save more.

Fact is, people overburdened with debt can only do so much. In Debt: The Forgiveness Fix, Peter Coy of Bloomberg Businessweek makes a strong case for governments and banks in the U.S. and in Europe to write-off a lot more debt. “Getting the global economy moving again means accepting that some debts will never be repaid–and the sooner they’re forgiven, the better,” writes Coy.

Until then, the wellsprings of economic recovery in the U.S. are going to have to come from somewhere other than the consumer.

Here are some household debt highlights from the Federal Reserve’s quarterly report:

  • Consumer debt was essentially steady in the second quarter compared to the first quarter. Better yet, as of June 30, 2011, total consumer indebtedness was $11.4 trillion, down $1.08 trillion or 8.6% from its peak level at the close of the third quarter of 2008.

  • Household mortgage balances and home equity lines of credit (HELOC) are 8.3% and 12.7%, respectively, below their peaks.

  • Consumer indebtedness excluding mortgage and HELOC balances fell a fraction–$10 billion or about 0.4%–in the quarter.

  • Total household delinquency rates declined for the sixth consecutive quarter. As of June 30, 9.9% of outstanding debt was in some stage of delinquency. That’s a high figure, but an improvement from the 10.5% on March 31 and 11.4% a year ago. Compared to a year ago, both delinquent and seriously delinquent balances (at least 90 days) have fallen 15%.

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