Debt gains were widespread but particularly focused on mortgages and vehicle purchases. Mortgage balances rose 1.9% for the quarter, or $207b, to about $11.4t, even though the pace of originations moved lower. That annual increase marked a 9.1% gain from a year ago as home prices exploded during the pandemic era.
“Americans are borrowing more, but a big part of the increased borrowing is attributable to higher prices,” the New York Fed said in a blog post accompanying the release.