Americans took out $211 billion in auto loans during the second quarter of 2026, a nominal record, up from $188 billion a year earlier. Total household debt stood at $18.8 trillion at the end of June, while the aggregate delinquency rate edged down from 4.8% to 4.7%. In real terms, Q2 2026 auto loan originations closely align with the peaks reached during the 2021 pandemic surge. Auto loan balances increased from $1.66 trillion to $1.69 trillion year-over-year, driven by a replacement cycle for vehicles purchased between 2020 and 2021.
Source: Read the original article
