Americans kept borrowing in first quarter as new mortgages eased

Americans continued to take on debt in the first quarter, though new mortgage borrowing slowed to the weakest level since late 2014, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York report.

Total U.S. household debt rose 0.9% from the prior quarter to $13.67 trillion in the first three months of 2019, about in line with the pace in recent years, New York Fed data showed Tuesday.

New mortgage borrowing fell to $344 billion, the least since the third quarter of 2014, even as borrowing costs dropped. Total home loan balances, which make up the largest portion of U.S. consumer debt, rose 1.3% from the prior quarter to $9.2 trillion, the highest since 2008. Student debt rose to $1.49 trillion while auto loans increased to $1.28 trillion, the highest in data since 2003.

Existing-home sales
An "Open House" sign is displayed outside of a home for sale in Miami, Florida, U.S., on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Photographer: Scott McIntyre/Bloomberg

The New York Fed report showed about 2.4% of balances fell into serious delinquency, or more than 90 days late. While that reading was little changed from the fourth quarter, the flow of mortgage balances into delinquency fell to 1.1% from 1.2% as the figure for student loans increased to 9.5% from 9.1%. The rate for credit cards was little changed at 5%, though that was still the highest since 2012.

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