Credit Card Debt on the Rise

The average U.S. household carries $15,654 in credit card debt, up 8 percent from 2016, according to a report from NerdWallet.

The average U.S. household owes a total of $131,431, including mortgages, according to the 2017 U.S. Household Credit Card Debt Study from NerdWallet. The average household carries $15,654 specifically in credit card debt, up 8 percent from 2016.

Spending on unnecessary purchases is the biggest contributor to credit card debt for 41 percent of people, followed by non-medical emergency services for 33 percent of Americans, according to the study.