VantageScore says U.S. consumer credit stayed healthy in June

VantageScore’s June CreditGauge showed the average VantageScore 4.0 score rose to 702, its highest level in 12 months, even as early-stage delinquencies ticked up in some parts of the market. The data points to consumers still managing debt carefully, with revolving credit discipline holding firm despite affordability pressures.

Why it matters: - U.S. consumer credit remained broadly stable in June 2026, which matters because consumer borrowing and repayment trends help signal household financial health and lender risk. - The data also shows a split picture: most consumers stayed current, but some borrowers showed early signs of stress. - That mix suggests affordability pressure is still building in parts of the market even as overall credit quality holds up.

What happened: - VantageScore’s June CreditGauge found the average VantageScore 4.0 credit score rose 1 point to 702. - That was the highest reading in the past 12 months. - Credit card delinquency rates improved across all three delinquency stages compared with June 2025. - Overall credit utilization fell from both the prior month and a year earlier. - The balance-to-loan ratio dropped to 49.61%, below the pre-pandemic level of 54.1%.

The details: - Early-stage delinquencies, defined as 30-59 days past due, rose to 0.98%. - That was up 9 basis points from June 2025. - Early-stage delinquencies remained below the pre-pandemic benchmark of 1.15%. - The increase showed up across every VantageScore credit tier, including Subprime and Nearprime borrowers. - Mortgage lending posted the clearest deterioration, with both early- and late-stage delinquencies rising year over year. - Mid-stage mortgage delinquencies improved modestly. - Late-stage delinquencies, defined as 90-119 days past due, held at 0.21%. - That matched June 2025 and stayed below pre-pandemic norms. - Average mortgage, auto loan and credit card balances rose modestly, consistent with higher home and vehicle prices. - Personal loan balances edged down year over year. - The personal loan balance-to-loan ratio increased slightly. - Credit card originations rose month over month and year over year. - Mortgage and auto loan originations were roughly flat.

Between the lines: - The strong score and lower utilization suggest consumers are being selective about taking on new debt. - The rise in early-stage delinquencies, without a move into severe delinquency, points to strain that is still contained rather than spreading. - The gradual shift toward lower VantageScore credit tiers suggests affordability pressures are hitting a subset of households first. - VantageScore said the broader picture remains supported by a resilient labor market and healthy household balance sheets.

What's next: - VantageScore will continue publishing CreditGauge as a monthly analysis of U.S. consumer credit. - The company also offers interactive tools at VantageScore.com that let users compare credit metrics with levels going back to January 2020. - VantageScore said stakeholders can use the tools to run additional queries on credit metrics and compare trends with the pre-pandemic period. - The company said the full CreditGauge report is available on the VantageScore website, and CreditGauge LIVE continues as a monthly video series on LinkedIn and YouTube.

The bottom line: - Consumer credit stayed healthy in June, but early warning signs in delinquencies show some households are still under pressure even as the broader market remains resilient.