Graph and download economic data for Consumer Loans: Credit Cards and Other Revolving Plans, All Commercial Banks (CCLACBW027SBOG) from 2000-06-28 to 2025-07-16 about revolving, credit cards, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, and USA.
The graph is not adjusted for inflation, so the situation is not as bad as it seems at first glance. From may 2021 to 2025, we went from roughly $740 billion to $1.1 trillion in credit card debt. That’s about 49% increase.
According to official CPI data, the CPI increased almost 20% during the same period.
So in reality we have credit card debt growth of about 24%, based on official figures in 4 years. That’s a real growth rate of about 5.5% per year.
In my opinion, this is a very good sign that inflation is much higher than officially reported. Credit card debt has no real reason to explode like this if people’s regular purchases were not getting substantially more expensive.
The graph is not adjusted for inflation, so the situation is not as bad as it seems at first glance. From may 2021 to 2025, we went from roughly $740 billion to $1.1 trillion in credit card debt. That’s about 49% increase.
According to official CPI data, the CPI increased almost 20% during the same period.
So in reality we have credit card debt growth of about 24%, based on official figures in 4 years. That’s a real growth rate of about 5.5% per year.
In my opinion, this is a very good sign that inflation is much higher than officially reported. Credit card debt has no real reason to explode like this if people’s regular purchases were not getting substantially more expensive.