Consumer debt question

[joanna bujes]

The NYT reported today (4/4/2000) that:

		The problem is that consumers have little cushion to soften the blow of 
layoffs. Many

               of their personal balance sheets are creaking under a load 
of debt, and savings are

               close to nonexistent. During the 90's, Americans piled on 
debt. Consumer debt as a

               share of the gross domestic product now stands at close to 
71 percent, a new high,

               and up almost half from the early 1980's. As a share of 
personal income, household

               debt has risen to 85 percent, also a record.

Does anybody know: does consumer debt include mortgage debt? Also, what 
does the last sentence mean: "As a share of personal income, 
household  debt has risen to 85 percent, also a record".

Thanks,

Joanna