Credit card debt makes up for lack of income growth: Credit card debt outstanding back up to $900 billion. Since 1980 household income up 300% while credit card debt up 1,760%.
The middle class started disappearing in earnest in the late 1970s. Massive inflation started eating away at the standard of living for most Americans. Yet much of this was covered up by access to debt. Credit cards, creative mortgages, student loans, and auto debt all allowed Americans to continue acting as if prosperity was only […]
Two-thirds of Americans don’t understand how credit cards work: The debt addiction in your pocket.
There is something alluring about swiping a card and making a purchase. It almost seems euphoric and fun. Credit cards come in a variety of sleek designs to help you part with your current and future income. Americans are deeply in debt. Mortgages, student loans, auto debt, and credit cards consume a large portion of […]
Subprime lending at highest level since financial crisis hit: The three leading subprime categories are auto loans, credit cards, and student debt. $189 billion in subprime loans made in 2014.
The euphoria is bleeding into every corner of our debt driven economy. Access to credit is being given to consumers but unfortunately, the loans are tied to items that are counter to becoming financially healthy. More to the point, subprime loans have reached levels that were last seen only during the financial crisis. As fewer […]
The revival of the American debt machine: auto loans, student debt, and credit card debt surge in latest report. Total non-housing debt now at $3.15 trillion.
Last week while going through mountains of credit cards offers, it felt as if we were in 2005 and 2006. Even last year, the cold calls started and it seemed like the debt machine was back and alive. This is helpful news for consumers given that half of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Now […]