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Inside the Vault

Fall 2008

Extra Credit: The Rise of Short-term Liabilities

According to the 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), the percentage of families holding debt rose from 72.3 percent in 1989 to 76.4 percent in 2004. Among families holding debt, the median value of the debt more than doubled during that time from $22,000 to $55,300 (in 2004 dollars). These numbers reflect both a rise in collateralized debt (e.g., mortgages) and uncollateralized debt (e.g., credit cards).

Economic Snapshot

Household Debt Service Payments as a Percentage of Disposable Personal Income

Q & A

Lesson Plan