Gen X is going deeper into credit card debt — even as they make more money than ever
Source: Business Insider ·
Gen Xers are making more money than ever before, but their credit card debt is ballooning — and their net worths are shrinking.
From the source
Gen Xers are dealing with mounting credit card debt.d3sign/Getty ImagesGen X, the economy's middle child, is contending with rising credit card debt.The Federal Reserve's latest accounting of consumer finances found their balances soared.That comes even as Gen X makes even more money, but sees shrinking net worths.Gen Xers are putting their credit cards to work.The Federal Reserve's latest accounting of consumer finances finds that as of 2025, 45 to 54-year-olds had the largest credit card balances among age groups, surpassing 64 to 75-year-olds. At the same time, their younger millennial peers have been paying down debt, with balances for 35 to 44-year-olds falling.The latest data comes as the country's forgotten middle-child generation contends with its own mixed financial fortunes. Consumer sentiment is lowest among Americans ages 35 to 54, according to the University of Michigan's index, with sentiment among that millennial-Gen X cohort sliding below both their younger and older…
BestAIBroker analysis
- Finance-aware sentiment: slightly negative (-0.10 on a -1 to +1 scale).
- Event classification: OTHER.
- Market importance score: 27/100, weighting entity relevance, source credibility, multi-outlet coverage and recency.