U.S. dollar bills, credit and debit cards in Washington on Oct. 4, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch TimesAmericans’ household debt levels, ranging from credit card balances to auto loans, reached a new record high last quarter.Total household debt in the United States surged by $197 billion in the third quarter to $18.59 trillion, according to the New York Federal Reserve.

