Fewer U.S. Households Have Debt, But Those Who Do Have More

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Fewer U.S. Households Have Debt, But Those Who Do Have More, Census

Bureau Reports</p>

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The percentage

of U.S. households holding some form of debt declined from 74 percent

to 69 percent between 2000 and 2011, according to new statistics

released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. At the same time, the median

amount of household debt increased over this period from $50,971 to

$70,000 (in 2011 constant dollars). These statistics are part of a

larger package released today that contains statistics on household

wealth, asset ownership and debt.

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These statistics come from Household Debt in the U.S.: 2000 to 2011

and accompanying detailed tables that examine the median value of debt

and percent holding debt for households, by various characteristics of

the householder, such as race and Hispanic origin, age, education and

income quintile.

Between 2000 and 2011, the largest increases in median debt were

experienced in households with householders age 35 to 44 (to

$108,000), 45 to 54 (to $86,500) and 55 to 64 (to $70,000). However,

the largest percentage increases in debt belonged to householders 55

to 64 years old (64 percent) and 65 and older (more than doubling to

$26,000). Furthermore, people 65 and older were the only age group

whose likelihood of holding debt rose over the period (from 41 percent

to 44 percent). The opposite pattern was observed for those under 65.

"Those 65 and over became more likely to hold debt against their

homes, and their median housing debt increased, as well, which

explains a significant portion of the increase in their overall debt

between 2000 and 2011," Census Bureau economist Marina Vornovytskyy

said.

During the period, the composition of debt held by households also

changed considerably. While the percentage holding credit card debt

declined from 51 percent in 2000 to 38 percent in 2011, the percentage

holding other unsecured debt, such as educational loans and medical

bills not covered by insurance, rose from 11 percent to 19 percent.

"Householders under age 45 experienced the largest increases in both

the likelihood of holding other debt and the amount of other debt,"

Vornovytskyy said.

Also released today was Household Wealth in the U.S.: 2000 to 2011 and

associated detailed tables that examine the median value of assets and

percent holding assets for households in 2011, by type of asset owned

and householder characteristics similar to those explored in Household

Debtin the U.S.: 2000 to 2011.

According to Household Wealth in the U.S.: 2000 to 2011, median net

worth rose from $81,821 in 2000 to $106,585 in 2005, before declining

to $68,828 in 2011 (in 2011 constant dollars). Median net worth

excluding home equity has not exhibited the same degree of variability

as overall median net worth: it showed no statistically significant

change between 2000 and 2005 and decreased by $3,815 (or 18 percent)

between 2005 and 2011.

"The changes in overall median net worth observed over the past decade

have been driven primarily by changes in one of its major components –

equity that American households hold in their homes," Census Bureau

economist Alfred Gottschalck said.

Over this same time period, there was significant regional variation

in the changes in median net worth.  The West experienced the largest

changes over the last decade, increasing from $78,999 in 2000 to

$146,841 in 2005 and then decreasing to $59,431 by 2011.

Between 2010 and 2011, median net worth showed no statistically

significant change.  Median net worth excluding home equity increased

from $15,546 to $16,942.

The source of data for each of these products was the Survey of Income

and Program Participation. As in all surveys, these data are subject

to sampling and nonsampling error.  For further information on the

source of the data and accuracy of the estimates, including standard

errors and confidence intervals, go to

http://www.sipp.census.gov/sipp/source.html. All dollar figures are in

2011 constant dollars.

Detailed tables on wealth

Detailed tables on debt

Highlights: Household Wealth in the U.S.: 2000 to 2011

Highlights: Household Debt in the U.S.: 2000 to 2011

Blog: Household Wealth and Debt in the U.S.: 2000 to 2011

Robert Bernstein CB13-51 Public Information Office 301-763-3030

e-mail: pio@census.gov

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

-0- 03/21/2013

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