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Even Americans with stellar credit are starting to slip, with late payments among superprime borrowers more than doubling since last year, according to VantageScore.

What does this mean?

Prime (661-780) and superprime (781-850) consumers have long been lenders' safest customers, but new VantageScore data shows the tide is turning. Late payments by superprime borrowers spiked 109% year-over-year, while prime delinquencies rose 47%. Missed payments on auto loans and mortgages are increasing at their quickest clip, with defaults past 30 days climbing fast. At the same time, new auto loan and mortgage originations dropped as higher earners pulled back on borrowing -- a sign of growing caution. Even retail has shifted: Walmart recently gained ground with affluent shoppers seeking value amid stubborn inflation and new import tariffs. With consumer sentiment souring in August, Americans across income brackets seem to be bracing for cost pressures.

Rising delinquencies among traditionally reliable borrowers suggest financial strains are creeping higher up the income ladder. Major US banks still see overall consumer stability but warn that a broader pullback in spending could arrive later this year. If wealthier households stay cautious, retail, banking, and auto companies could feel tighter margins and weaker results in the quarters to come.

The bigger picture: Wealth isn't immune to rising costs.

More affluent shoppers turning to budget retailers, along with a surge in late payments from high-credit consumers, signals that inflation is reshaping behavior even in sturdy segments. These shifts could alter national trends around spending, lending, and defaults -- and if confidence keeps eroding, economic growth could slow, even in areas long seen as resilient.