Revolving Credit Utilization (75th Percentile)
Credit card utilization at the 75th percentile of active borrowers
What is the current Revolving Credit Utilization (75th Percentile)?
Borrowers at the 75th percentile of credit card utilization are using 50.47% of their available revolving credit as of Q1 2026, according to Federal Reserve data. High utilization — typically above 30% — signals financial pressure and damages credit scores. Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Survey of Consumer Finances data retrieved via FRED.
At the 75th percentile of credit card utilization, active borrowers are using 50.47% of their available credit. Well above the 30% threshold lenders treat as a warning sign.
The Federal Reserve's FRED series RCCCBACTIVEUTILPCT75 tracks credit card utilization at the 75th percentile of active borrowers. As of Q1 2026 the reading is 50.47% — well above the pandemic-era low of 40.9% (Q2 2021), and approaching the pre-pandemic range of 55 to 58%.
Thirty percent utilization is the threshold where credit scoring models start penalizing borrowers. Reading in the mid-fifties is deep into the zone where the next card offers stop coming, minimum-payment calculations climb, and the cost of being short on a bill rises sharply.
The 75th percentile is the right place to look. Median utilization numbers blend the stretched with the comfortable in a way that hides the stress. This is a direct read on the households at the edge. Their available credit — the reserve meant to absorb a car repair or an ER bill — is already being used to fund everyday life.
When utilization runs this high, the math of any new shock gets ugly fast. The Safety Net shows a minority of Americans could cover a $1,000 emergency from savings. The rest would typically reach for a credit card. At 50.47% utilization on the stressed cohort, the card is already doing most of its job. Falling Behind is the indicator that picks up what happens when the card runs out of room.
Explore Further
How has Revolving Credit Utilization (75th Percentile) changed over time?
Most affected counties
Counties with the highest safety net and buffer scores in the County Distress Index.
Explore all 3,144 counties →| Period | Value | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | 50.47% | -1.2 pp |
| Q4 2025 | 53.99% | -1.19 pp |
| Q3 2025 | 52.49% | -1.08 pp |
| Q2 2025 | 51.82% | -0.96 pp |
| Q1 2025 | 51.67% | -1.06 pp |
| Q4 2024 | 55.18% | -0.62 pp |
| Q3 2024 | 53.57% | +0.42 pp |
| Q2 2024 | 52.78% | +1.63 pp |
| Q1 2024 | 52.73% | +3.02 pp |
| Q4 2023 | 55.8% | +3.63 pp |
| Q3 2023 | 53.15% | +4.96 pp |
| Q2 2023 | 51.15% | +5.8 pp |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 75th percentile credit utilization mean?
It means that one-quarter of borrowers are using more than 50.47% of their available revolving credit (Q1 2026). Financial advisors generally recommend keeping utilization below 30%. Above 50%, borrowers are more likely to face higher interest rates and credit-score damage.
Why does high utilization matter?
High utilization is both a symptom and a cause of financial distress. It signals that borrowers are relying heavily on available credit, and it damages credit scores, which leads to higher interest rates on any new borrowing.
Where does the data come from?
The Federal Reserve tracks credit card utilization by percentile through survey and administrative data feeding FRED, letting American Default show how the most stretched quarter of borrowers compares with the median.
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