CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Americans added about $93 billion in credit card debt in 2025, with the average household now carrying around $11,500 in debt, according to a new WalletHub report that reveals record levels of consumer borrowing nationwide.
North Carolina and South Carolina residents rank near the middle of the pack in overall credit card debt, but Carolinians carry more plastic than most Americans. North Carolina ranks second nationally for the average number of credit cards per person at slightly over three cards each, according to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. South Carolinians also average around three credit cards per person.
The surge in credit card usage comes as more people feel the financial squeeze from higher costs for gas, groceries and dining out. The debt burden is made worse by most credit cards carrying interest rates above 20%, meaning consumers who only make minimum payments could take years to eliminate their balances…