Credit Trends: Q1 Insights
February 5, 2026 · Trends
Our January Consumer Credit Pulse wave closed with 4,712 weighted interviews. Headline utilization among prime borrowers held near its five-year median, while subprime households reported elevated difficulty meeting minimum payments compared with Q4 2025.
Regional variation
Sun Belt metros showed stronger planned borrowing for home improvement, whereas Midwest respondents emphasized consolidation loans. These patterns are descriptive, not forecasts—clients combine them with internal portfolio data.
BNPL persistence
Repeat buy-now-pay-later usage remains concentrated among adults under 40, but middle-income parents increasingly cite education-related installment plans. Underwriting teams monitor overlap with traditional card revolvers.
What to watch in Q2
We will field supplemental questions on tax refund allocation and deferred payment plan awareness. Subscribers receive preview toplines one week before public blog summaries.