The average American carries $6,194 in credit card debt, up 3% from last year, as reported by CNBC, but that number varies widely depending on the state.
Utah fared well, coming in under the average, having about $5,600 in credit card debt.
Alaska had the highest amount of debt with an average almost $2,000 higher than the national average at $8,026.
Iowa clutched the winning spot, with the average outstanding credit card balance being $4,774.
The report also tracked the national averages on other forms of debt. The average student loan balance increased by almost 6% from 2018 and the average mortgage balance increased by over 2%.
In fact, all outstanding balances (auto loans, retail cards) increased except for personal loans, which decreased by less than 1%. But with more debt came more income, the estimated annual household income was $79,834 in 2019, an increase of 2.6, according to the report.
While the numbers can be concerning, the Experian report also found trends that American credit card holders should be excited about.
The average FICO score, more commonly known as a credit rating, hit a record high in 2019, with the average score being 703, which is considered having “good” credit.
When broken down by age, average credit scores started at “fair” for those ages 20 to 29, to “very good” for those over 60.
Utah again made an impression, being significantly better than the national average, with a state average “good” credit score of 716.
Mississippi came in last with an average credit score of 667, which falls under “fair.”
Minnesota was the clear winner for the eighth year in a row with an average credit score of 733, near the top of the 670 to 739 “good” range.
The city of Boulder, Colo., received an honorable mention for having an average score of 743, which is 40 points above the national average and considered “very good”.
For those struggling with poor credit scores, the credit score report suggests limiting applications to new credit, keeping credit card balances low and being timely with payments.