Os Brazilians became more indebted from March to April, according to National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC).
A for one new record of 80.9% in April. In April 2025, this percentage was 77.6%. The data are from the Consumer Debt and Default Survey (Peic).
“Recent results indicate relative accommodation in families’ financial conditions. Although debt remains on an upward trend, this movement has not been accompanied by a significant deterioration in default, which remains relatively stable, as well as the portion of families unable to pay off outstanding debts”, pointed out the CNC report.
“Furthermore, the outlook for debt decline suggests a more manageable debt profile in the short term.”
The research considers debts due in credit accounts, special checks, store cards, personal loans, post-dated checks and car and house payments.
Default
A share of defaulting families rose slightly from 29.6% in March to 29.7% in April. This proportion was 29.1% in April 2025.
Furthermore, the share of Brazilian families stating that they will not be able to pay their outstanding debts, that is, that they will remain in default, remained stable at 12.3% in April, the same proportion seen in March. In April 2025, this proportion was 12.4%.
Among defaulters, 49.5% reported having debts overdue for more than 90 days.
“The average delay time stabilized at 65.1 days for the third month in a row, reflecting an improvement in average income that helps with financial regularization”, pointed out the CNC.
Debt rises between poor and rich
The increase in debt in April was widespread across all income groups. In the group with a monthly family income of up to three minimum wages, it rose from 82.9% in March to 83.6% in April.
In the lower middle class, with an income of three to five minimum wages, the proportion of people in debt increased from 82.6% in March to 82.8% in April.
In the group of five to ten minimum wages, there was an increase from 79.2% to 80.1%. In the group with income above 10 minimum wages per month, this share rose from 69.9% to 70.8%.
Default details
As for defaultin the group with a monthly family income of up to three minimum wages, the proportion of families with outstanding debts remained at 38.2% in April, the same result as in March.
In the lower middle class, with incomes of three to five minimum wages, the proportion of defaulters decreased from 28.7% to 28.0%.
In the group of five to ten minimum wages, there was an increase from 22.1% to 22.7%. In the group that receives more than 10 minimum wages per month, it rose from 14.7% to 15%.
“The increase in uncertainty in the global economic scenario led to a recent review of the pace of debt in Brazil. The prevailing perception currently is that, by the end of the year, debt levels will tend to remain at high levels for longer,” said CNC chief economist Fabio Bentes, in a note.
