Fed says household income, wealth and debt stress increased from 2022 to 2025
SPY•A Federal Reserve survey found real median family income rose 7% to $82,200 from 2022 to 2025, while real median net worth rose 2% to $215,900. Debt stress increased, with nearly 20% of families reporting they were behind on loan payments, up from about 12%.
1. Income and wealth gains
The Federal Reserve’s latest Survey of Consumer Finances found that most U.S. families experienced moderate increases in income and net worth from 2022 to 2025, but wealth gains were slower than in the prior three years. Income gains were larger for less well-off families, while more wealth flowed to the top 10%.
2. Uneven outcomes
Real median family income rose 7% to $82,200, and real median net worth increased 2% to $215,900. The bottom fourth of households saw net worth fall from $3,800 in 2022 to $1,700, while median wealth for Black families declined 25%. Families whose main member was over 75 saw wealth rise 37%.
3. Debt stress rises
The median debt payment as a share of income rose 2 percentage points to 15.4%, and the debt-to-income ratio increased to 94.9% from 89.4%. The share of families behind on loan payments rose from about 12% to almost 20%, while use of buy-now, pay-later plans increased from 7% to 12%.
