The Federal Reserve has been tracking household balance sheet data since 1952, detailing financial assets, liabilities, and net worth
As of June 30th of the current year, American households have reached record highs in assets ($174.4 trillion), liabilities ($20.1 trillion), and net worth ($154.3 trillion)
About two-thirds of these assets are financial (stocks, bonds, cash, etc.), and one-third are nonfinancial (nonprofits, consumer durables, real estate)
Mortgages make up the majority (64%) of household debt, while consumer credit (car loans, credit cards, etc.) accounts for 25% of total liabilities
The debt-to-assets ratio has remained relatively stable over the decades, with an average of around 13%
Debt levels were high leading up to the 2008 financial crisis but have since decreased, returning to levels seen in 2000
In the years leading up to the 2008 crisis, both assets and liabilities grew significantly, indicating excessive borrowing
Since the Great Financial Crisis, assets have grown by 136%, while liabilities have increased by just 40%, leading to a substantial increase in net worth
Recent data shows that financial asset growth has outpaced the growth in debt, indicating a healthier household financial position compared to the precursor to the 2008 crisis