Pew Charitable Trusts [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/press-releases

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Press Release
Pew Finds Complex Relationship Between Debt and Financial Security and Mobility
Report points to debt as a critical factor in family balance sheets
July 29, 2015
Financial Security and Mobility
WASHINGTON—A report released today by The Pew Charitable Trusts finds that Americans’ debt has increased over the past three decades, due particularly to home mortgages and student loans, with important implications for long-term economic mobility. A full 80 percent of Americans hold at least some form of debt, and nearly 7 in 10 say debt is a necessity in their lives, even though they would prefer not to have it.

The report, “The Complex Story of American Debt,” shows that debt is a routine but also complicated aspect of U.S. households’ overall financial health. At high levels, debt can hinder financial security, but sustainable debt, which allows families to invest in their futures without putting undue pressure on their budgets, can also help them take advantage of long-term opportunities, such as those that come from buying a home, getting a college degree, or starting a business…