Consumer credit performance remained healthy in May 2026, according to the latest edition of CreditGauge™ from VantageScore. Delinquency rates across all delinquency stages remained below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that most borrowers have successfully adjusted to a prolonged, higher-rate environment despite ongoing affordability challenges. Meanwhile, the average VantageScore 4.0 credit score held steady at 701, reinforcing the overall stability of consumer credit health. Together, these indicators point to a resilient consumer credit landscape, even as elevated interest rates and cost-of-living pressures persist.
While consumer sentiment has softened in recent months, the underlying credit data tells a more stable story,” said Atif Mirza, EVP and Chief Digital and Insights Officer at VantageScore. “Delinquency rates remain below pre-pandemic levels across all delinquency stages, reflecting the continued resilience of consumers despite elevated interest rates and rising household expenses. Coupled with a rebound in new credit originations, these credit trends point to a credit market that remains healthy and accessible.
Watch CreditGauge LIVE for for additional key insights from the May 2026 edition of CreditGauge that include:
CONSUMER CREDIT CONDITIONS IMPROVE ACROSS VANTAGESCORE TIERS AS DELINQUENCY RATES FALL: Year-over-year, early-stage, or 30-59 Days Past Due (DPD), delinquencies improved across all VantageScore credit tiers in May 2026. Delinquency rates declined from 0.20% to 0.16% among Prime borrowers, from 1.87% to 1.58% among Nearprime borrowers and from 11.0% to 9.8% among Subprime borrowers, while Superprime delinquency rates remained extremely low at 0.0020%, down from 0.0040% a year earlier. These trends reflect broad-based stabilization in consumer credit performance despite higher borrowing costs, student loan repayment obligations and persistent affordability pressures.
UNSECURED ORIGINATIONS GROW, LED BY PERSONAL LOANS: Year-over-year in May 2026, originations remained above May 2025 levels across most products, led by unsecured lending. Personal loan originations reached a nine-month high, rising from 2.88% to 3.41% since October 2025 and signaling an area to watch in the months ahead.
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CreditGauge is a monthly analysis highlighting the overall health of U.S. consumer credit. To download this month’s full CreditGauge report, visit the VantageScore website.
