The average credit card APR held steady at 23.79% in July 2026, marking the second consecutive month without change, while data on delinquency rates shows a mixed picture: short-term missed payments declined, even as longer-term delinquencies remained elevated.
According to LendingTree’s analysis of approximately 220 credit cards from more than 50 issuers, the 23.79% rate in July matched June’s figure exactly. This marks the first time rates have remained unchanged in back-to-back months since at least 2019, when LendingTree began tracking credit card rates monthly.
The stability reflects the Federal Reserve’s steady hand. Unlike mortgage and auto loan rates, most credit card rates are directly tied to the Fed’s benchmark rate. Because the Fed has held rates flat in January, March, April, and June 2026, with no movement expected in July, credit card issuers have had little reason to adjust their pricing. As LendingTree noted, “If the Fed sits on its hands, as it has done throughout 2026, credit card rates likely won’t move much.”
On the delinquency front, the 30-day delinquency rate dipped to 2.92% in the first quarter of 2026, marking the seventh straight quarterly decline, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Transitions into early delinquency also ticked down for credit cards, falling from 8.7% annually to 8.6%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
However, severe delinquencies tell a different story. The share of credit card balances at least 90 days past due reached 13.12% in Q1 2026—the highest level in 15 years—according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This suggests that while fewer consumers are entering delinquency, those who do fall behind are staying behind longer.
For consumers carrying balances, the elevated rates remain a challenge. The average APR on accounts assessed interest stood at 22.15% in Q2 2026, up from 21.52% in Q1, according to Federal Reserve data cited by LendingTree. With rates likely to stay elevated through the foreseeable future, reducing credit card debt remains one of the most effective ways for households to improve their financial position.
Sources
- LendingTree — average credit card APR at 23.79% in July 2026, unchanged from June; explanation of rate stability tied to Federal Reserve policy
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis — 30-day delinquency rate on credit card loans at 2.92% in Q1 2026
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York — transitions into early delinquency for credit cards declined to 8.6% annually; 90-day delinquency rates at 13.12% in Q1 2026
