What’s behind the flattening of the national average VantageScore® credit score?

After steadily climbing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the average national credit score has flattened and remains at 697 due to some increase in riskier consumer credit behaviors. A new report from VantageScore helps you understand why.

To support users of VantageScore® credit scores and consumer credit industry stakeholders, VantageScore developed CreditGauge Powered by VantageScore™, a downloadable report (PDF) supplemented with interactive tools that examine both broad consumer credit health as well as key credit behaviors that help determine risk. CreditGauge is provided as an open-source tool and is available without cost at VantageScore.com.

Key features of CreditGauge include TIMELY INSIGHTS, a FOCUS ON THE CONSUMER and EASY ACCESS. To use the tool or learn more, visit here.

The September 2022 refreshed data set indicates key shifts:

SCORES FLATTENING: The average VantageScore 4.0 credit score was 697 in September, an historical high (and 2.2 points higher than the same time last year). As inflation persists, consumers continue to spend and are increasingly adding to their overall debt levels.

DELINQUENCY RATES RISING MODESTLY: Across all product types and all Days Past Due (DPD) categories, delinquency rates rose when comparing September 2022 to September 2021 though remains historically low.

INFLATION MAKING AN IMPACT: As inflation takes hold, consumers are leveraging credit to make ends meet. The average credit card utilization rate has risen 2.6% year-over-year with balances increasing as well.