Borrowers often expect their non-mortgage debt to shrink
Core finding
A plurality of Americans expect the balance of their non-mortgage debt, from credit cards to student and auto loans, to shrink over the coming year, according to a Verasight survey conducted Dec. 22, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026. Just over a third (34%) foresee a decrease, ahead of any other single answer.
About three-in-ten (31%) expect no real change and 13% brace for a larger balance, while another 22% say they carry no non-mortgage debt at all.
Topline distribution
Borrowers often expect their non-mortgage debt to shrink.
Looking ahead to next year, do you expect the balance of your non-mortgage debt (e.g., credit cards, student loans, auto loans, personal loans) to increase or decrease?
n = 1,000 · Dec 22, 2025 – Jan 5, 2026 · MoE ±3.1%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | United States adults |
| Field dates | Dec 22, 2025 – Jan 5, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.1% |
| Module | predictions |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight for AI and predictions questions; weight_popculture for pop culture questions |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-predictions
Looking ahead to next year, do you expect the balance of your non-mortgage debt (e.g., credit cards, student loans, auto loans, personal loans) to increase or decrease?
Cite this question
2026 Predictions Survey #2025-183, fielded December 22, 2025-January 5, 2026, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.1%.