VantageScore’s monthly CreditGauge report for September 2026 shows broadly stable consumer credit across the United States, with the average VantageScore 4.0 remaining at 701 and overall leverage falling to a 12‑month low, the company said in a Business Wire release on Oct. 26, 2026.
Key numbers for September 2026
VantageScore highlighted several measures that together describe a consumer-credit picture of limited stress but early signs to watch:
- Average VantageScore 4.0: 701.
- Average consumer balance: $107,500, essentially unchanged from August 2026.
- Balance-to-loan ratio (BTL): 49.50%, down from 49.60% month-over-month and 1.29% below September 2025 (50.79%).
- 90–119 days past due (late-stage delinquencies): 0.23%.
- 30–59 days past due (early-stage delinquencies): 1.15% (up month-over-month).
In the release, VantageScore said the stability in balances and a lower BTL indicate consumers continued to pay down debt relative to original loan amounts, a sign of steady borrowing conditions.
“Consumers have been able to manage their debt effectively and responsibly, as evidenced in strong credit balances and lower utilization,” said Atif Mirza, EVP and Chief Digital and Insights Officer at VantageScore.
What the metrics mean
Maintaining an average score of 701 suggests credit profiles across the population were largely unchanged in September. The report frames two contrasting trends: overall leverage eased to its lowest level in a year, while early-stage delinquencies (30–59 days past due) rose slightly to 1.15%. VantageScore described late-stage delinquencies (90–119 days past due) as contained, at 0.23%, and nearly unchanged year-over-year.
| Metric | September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Average VantageScore 4.0 | 701 |
| Average consumer balance | $107,500 |
| Balance-to-loan ratio | 49.50% |
| 30–59 DPD | 1.15% |
| 90–119 DPD | 0.23% |
VantageScore’s analysis, issued through Business Wire, did not assign causes beyond noting consumers were “navigating this economic environment,” nor did it provide lender-level or regional breakdowns in the release. The company also invited readers to view a live CreditGauge presentation for additional insights.
These monthly score and credit-balance snapshots are widely used by lenders, policymakers and analysts to track household financial health. The September figures will join other national indicators — mortgage rates, delinquencies reported by servicers and government data — in shaping assessments of consumer resilience as policymakers and markets monitor the economy ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next decisions.
