The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported $1.655 trillion in U.S. auto-loan balances for the third quarter of 2025. Auto originations and leases totaled $184 billion during the quarter, while the transition rate into serious delinquency increased to 2.99% from 2.90%.
These are household-credit aggregates. They describe the national credit system, not a dealership's approval rate, a lender's exact performance or the risk of an individual applicant.
A small rate move can represent many accounts
A nine-basis-point increase may sound modest, but it applies to a very large credit market. The appropriate dealership response is closer measurement—not a blanket assumption that every customer segment is deteriorating.
Store data should supply the actionable layer
F&I leaders can compare approvals, turndowns, stipulations, funded rate, credit tier, loan-to-value and lender mix over time. Those measures reveal whether national stress is appearing in the store's actual customer base.
Managers should avoid using delinquency data to stereotype applicants or push products. Credit decisions and product presentations must remain tied to lawful, customer-specific information.
New York Fed measures are national household-credit aggregates and should not be converted into individual credit judgments.
Cited references
- New York Fed Household Debt and Credit report — Federal Reserve research release