The average U.S. FICO® Score now stands between 715 and 717—a figure often cited as evidence of rising consumer credit health. But this upward trend hides a critical flaw: credit scores are increasingly inflated by older Americans (ages 55+) who are no longer active borrowers.
While consumers aged 60+ enjoy the highest average scores, they are also the least likely to be financing homes, taking out car loans, or applying for new credit. Meanwhile, the financial lives of younger Americans—who do engage with the credit system—are far more volatile, under pressure from inflation, rising debt loads, and systemic barriers to wealth-building.
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