The latest crop of young adults in the U.S. is leaning more on credit than the generation before, and experts expect the problem to get worse before it gets better as elevated inflation continues to rage. A new report from TransUnion released Wednesday shows Gen Z adults, ages 22 to 24, are opening up more credit cards, racking up more debt, and have a higher rate of delinquencies than their millennial counterparts did at the same age range a decade ago.
Gen Z'ers are also more likely to take out an auto loan than millennials were 10 years ago, at 30% versus 25%, respectively. The report pointed to the 32% cumulative rise in the consumer price index over the past decade while noting that debt levels across all age groups are up, with credit card debt among Americans topping $1 trillion last year.
TransUnion said the high prices and high credit card balances are contributing to Gen Z consumers holding higher balances on other credit products, including auto loans, which are up 14% for that generation compared to inflation-adjusted numbers from 10 years prior.