Debt struggles hit consumers at all income levels

As credit card debt ticks higher, there are more signs that consumers — even those with higher incomes — are struggling to manage their balances.

Credit card debt hit $1.21 trillion in the second quarter, in line with last year's all-time high, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The total is up 2.3% from the previous quarter.

While lower-income Americans are most likely to struggle with the higher costs of everyday items, a new set of surveys from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling found that over the past six months, debt issues have been affecting a growing number of Americans across all income levels.

"It really doesn't matter on the income level," said Mike Croxson, CEO of the NFCC, an organization of non-profit credit counseling agencies. "It's real