美国人正努力跟上每月账单的支付。可负担性是中期选举选民最关心的问题，城市研究所的新数据凸显了这一问题有多紧迫。该智库利用美国人口普查局和信用局的数据进行分析，发现23.5%的有信用记录的美国人存在被追讨的债务，中位数金额为2913美元。该国一些地区在未偿债务方面的困难程度高于其他地区。在得克萨斯州南部农村吉姆霍格县，超过一半的有信用记录的人存在被追讨的债务。
Americans are struggling to keep up with their monthly bills. Affordability was top of mind for voters in the midterm elections, and new data from the Urban Institute illuminated just how pressing an issue it is. An analysis from the think tank, using US Census Bureau and credit bureau data, showed that 23.5% of Americans with a credit history have debt in collections, with a median amount of $2,913. And some corners of the country are struggling more with outstanding debt than others. In rural Jim Hogg County in south Texas, over half of those with a credit history have debt in collections.
谁持有债务也存在不平等：城市研究所发现，有色人种社区——即至少一半人口为非白人的邮编地区——比白人社区更有可能出现进入追讨程序的债务，可能性高出约50%。进入追讨程序所需的时间因产品而异。信用卡付款逾期的借款人通常在错过付款后四到六个月会进入追讨程序，而医疗债务大约在三到六个月。该分析称，信用卡逾期债务的中位数为680美元，而医疗账单逾期者的中位数为1492美元。
Who holds debt is also unequal: The Urban Institute found communities of color — zip codes where at least half of the population is non-white — were around 50% more likely to have debt heading to collections than white communities. The time it takes to go to collections varies by product. A borrower behind on credit card payments would typically go to collections four to six months after a missed payment, while medical debt is around three to six months. The analysis said that the median credit card delinquent debt is $680, compared to $1,492 for those behind on medical bills.
学生贷款的追讨流程取决于贷款是联邦贷款还是私人贷款。联邦学生贷款通常在270天后违约，借款人随后有机会与贷款服务商合作，对贷款进行康复并恢复良好信用。教育部在实施其还款改革期间，暂停了联邦学生贷款的非自愿追讨，包括工资扣押和扣押联邦福利等后果。它尚未说明暂停何时解除。与此同时，私人学生贷款通常在未付款180天后违约，并适用标准追讨程序。
The collections process for student loans depends on whether the loan is federal or private. A federal student loan typically defaults after 270 days, and a borrower would then have the opportunity to work with their servicer to rehabilitate their loan and return to good standing. The Education Department paused involuntary collections on federal student loans, including the consequences of wage garnishment and the seizure of federal benefits, while it implemented its repayment overhaul. It has not specified when the pause will lift. Private student loans, meanwhile, typically default after 180 days of nonpayment and are subject to standard collection procedures.
你有关于未偿债务的故事要分享吗？请联系这些记者，电子邮件地址为asheffey@businessinsider.com和jkaplan@businessinsider.com。
Do you have a story to share about outstanding debt? Contact these reporters at asheffey@businessinsider.com and jkaplan@businessinsider.com.
城市研究所的数据显示，2026年，16%的联邦和私人学生贷款借款人拖欠还款，拖欠金额的中位数为5078美元。根据纽约联储的数据，截至2026年第二季度，美国人总共欠下18.8万亿美元的债务；截至6月底，4.7%的债务已转为某种形式的拖欠，其中10.6%的学生贷款债务拖欠90天或以上。从通胀到食品杂货价格上涨，美国人的钱包承受压力，导致一些人不得不挑挑拣拣，决定优先偿还哪些账单。
Urban Institute's data showed that 16% of federal and private student-loan borrowers were behind on payments in 2026, with a median defaulted amount of $5,078. Across the board, Americans owed $18.8 trillion in debt as of the second quarter of 2026, according to the New York Federal Reserve; 4.7% of debt had transitioned into some form of delinquency at the end of June, with 10.6% of student loan debt 90 days or more delinquent. From inflation to rising grocery prices, Americans' wallets have been strained, leading some to pick and choose which bills to prioritize.
信用卡和学生贷款等产品的高利率也阻碍了借款人按时还款。例如，73岁的苏珊·坎农此前曾告诉《商业内幕》，她背负近4万美元的债务，分布在19张信用卡上，利率从12%到近35%不等。“我一直试图存一些钱，但现在全都用来付利息了，”坎农说。“我就是无法摆脱困境。”
High interest rates on products like credit cards and student loans also deter borrowers' ability to stay on top of their payments. For example, Susan Cannon, a 73-year-old, previously told Business Insider that she has nearly $40,000 in debt spread across 19 credit cards with interest rates ranging from 12% to nearly 35%. "I've always tried to put some in savings, but it's gotten to where it's all going toward interest," Cannon said. "I just cannot get ahead."