A couple of things stand out. First, overall growth in debt remains considerably more muted in 2013 than it was in 2006, with the exception of auto loans, where 2013 data continued to reflect the strong growth we have been seeing since mid-2011, and student loans. (In the case of student loans, the percentage growth has moderated since 2006, but since the outstanding balance has doubled, the lower percentage growth is associated with comparable dollar increases.) Mortgage and home equity line of credit (HELOC) balances, in particular, grew much more slowly in 2013 than in 2006. Second, for all loan types and in both years, balance increases were mainly driven by younger age groups. Again, though, student loans are an exception: even older student loan borrowers continue to increase their borrowing.
The next two charts break down the same data, this time by Equifax risk score (or credit score) groups.
On the credit score breakdown we see stark differences in patterns for mortgages and HELOCs between the 2013 and 2006 cohorts. Notably, in 2013, balances fell for the lowest credit score borrowers—the result of charge-offs from previous foreclosures—while all groups, even those with subprime credit scores, increased their mortgage balances in 2006. Now, the modest mortgage balance increases we see are mainly coming from high credit score borrowers.
A similar picture emerges for credit card balances. Note, though, that credit card balances for subprime borrowers were falling in 2006, again mostly due to charge-offs, making the increased mortgage balance for that group in 2006 seem all the more remarkable.
There’s been a tremendous amount of attention to the growth of student loans in recent years, and these charts indicate some of the reason why. First, student loans grew the most of any debt product in both periods (in percentage terms). Second, the growth in educational debt, like that of auto loans, is concentrated among the lower and middle credit score groups.
But auto and student loans have been growing for some time, while overall debt continued to fall. In 2013, the increased credit card and mortgage debt among the young and the riskless led to a turnaround in the trajectory of overall debt.
For a more detailed look at net borrowing by age and credit score in 2006 and 2013, please take a look at our interactive graphic.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this post are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the authors.
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