consumer credit remained resilient despite early-stage payment pressure, according to the latest edition of CreditGauge from VantageScore. Balances were stable, and credit card utilization remained below 2026 levels. The average VantageScore 4.0 credit score remained at 701, continuing a trend of steady consumer credit scores over the last year.

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“Consumers have been able to manage their debt effectively and responsibly, as evidenced in strong credit balances and lower utilization,” said Atif Mirza, EVP and Chief Digital and Insights Officer at VantageScore. “Even as early delinquencies remain an area to watch, consumers appear to be navigating this economic environment.”

Watch CreditGauge LIVE for additional key insights from the September 2026 edition of CreditGauge that include:

CONSUMER BALANCES HOLD STEADY, OVERALL LEVERAGE FALLS TO A 12-MONTH LOW: In September 2026, the average consumer balance remained near $107.5K, essentially unchanged from August 2026 and $990 above September 2025. The overall balance-to-loan ratio (BTL) declined from 49.60% to 49.50% month-over-month and remained 1.29% below its year-ago level of 50.79% in September 2025. Stable overall balances, combined with a lower balance-to-loan ratio, suggest that consumers continued to pay down debt relative to their original loan amounts, indicating stable borrowing conditions.

23% and just 1 basis point above September 2025. 15%, they remained only 2 basis points above year-ago levels. The relatively steady year-over-year delinquency rates suggest that consumers continue to manage their credit obligations despite ongoing economic pressures.

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