Why US Consumer Debt Hit 18 Trillion in 2026

In this episode of US Economy with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna drill into the staggering $18 trillion consumer debt milestone reached in 2026. They break down the composition—mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, student debt—and explain why the ratio of debt to disposable income actually tells a different story than the headline number. The conversation covers the role of higher interest rates, the shift from fixed to variable-rate borrowing, and what rising delinquency rates on credit cards and auto loans mean for the broader economy. Lucas points to the divergence between high-income households, who locked in low mortgage rates, and lower-income households, who are now squeezed by both inflation and higher borrowing costs. The hosts also touch on the Fed's balancing act and why this debt load is a slow-burn risk rather than a 2008-style crisis. A detailed but accessible look at the numbers behind the headlines. #ConsumerDebt #USEconomy #FederalReserve #InterestRates #CreditCards #AutoLoans #StudentDebt #Mortgages #HouseholdDebt #Delinquency #Inflation #DisposableIncome #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #LucasAndLuna #USMarkets Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo