Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTVawn HimmelsbachSun, August 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM GMT+2 6 min readGeber86/ShutterstockWith many Americans feeling financially squeezed at the grocery store and at the gas pump, it's not surprising, perhaps, that they're increasingly using credit cards to cover the bills.U.S. credit card balances rose to a total of $1.263 trillion in Q2 2026, up $1.242 trillion at the beginning of the year, according to the latest consumer debt data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.Must ReadJeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being oneDave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake.