• Equifax analysis flagged elevated US student-loan stress, with 15%–17% of consumers holding student debt.
• 90+ day delinquencies improved in recent months, following an all-time high in May last year for dollars past due.
• Average non-deferred monthly payments rose to $310 from $288 in Jan 2020, a 7.6% increase over 76 months.
• Payment growth accelerated recently, up 6.9% over 16 months versus 4.7% cumulative inflation.
• Real wages contracted 0.25% as of July 2026, tightening household budgets amid higher prices.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Equifax Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 08, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.