Household Debt Overview

A growing body of research documents the importance of household debt to the Great Recession and subsequent sluggish recovery. Notably, counties in which households were heavily indebted relative to their income at the beginning of the downturn experienced sharper declines in consumption expenditure and employment. The tables and interactive maps below allow users to explore the ratio of debt to income by state, metropolitan statistical area, and county for each year since 1999. Household debt is calculated from FRBNY Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax Data, and household income is reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information see the associated FEDS Note. Please note that the precise data values are not available for download and that the value ranges in the data files correspond to the color-coded scales used in the interactive map.

Interactive Data Visualizations

United States map with each state in a range of colors from green to red.
Explore Map by States
These interactive maps show the debt-to-income ratio for each state and each year since 1999.
Accessible Version | CSV
United States map with each county in a range of colors from green to red.
Explore Map by Counties
These interactive maps show the debt-to-income ratio for each county and each year since 1999.
Accessible Version | CSV
United States map with Metropolitan Statistical Areas in a range of colors from green to red.
Explore Map by Metropolitan Statistical Areas
These interactive maps show the debt-to-income ratio for each MSA and each year since 1999.
Accessible Version | CSV
Last Update: September 20, 2024
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