Credit card debt As a result, the number of people who have been living in 2022 has risen by 80% over the past three months. Americans Shopaholics hopped their way through holidays and into financial difficulties. 

Americans’ collective credit card At the close of last year balances were $986 billion, an increase of $61 billion over the quarter before, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s quarterly household debt report. U.S. households are overall more than any other country. debt—including mortgage, auto, student loan, and credit card debt—grew to $16.90 trillion at the end of 2022. 

This $61 billion rise in credit card debtThe largest quarter-over-quarter jump was however recorded in in the history of the N.Y. Fed’s data, which dates back to 1999. The total amount accumulated is also included. credit card debt The pre-pandemic record for $927 billion was broken. 

“Credit card balances grew robustly in the fourth quarter, while mortgage and auto loan balances grew at a more moderate pace, reflecting activity consistent with pre-pandemic levels,” Wilbert Van der Klaauw was an economist research advisor for the New York Fed. in Make a statement. 

The highest are not. debt This is somewhat alarming in itself but more worrying is the level of delinquency. are Also, the number of people is increasing. Research suggests that although the total amount debt While the likelihood of someone becoming serious delinquent (more than 90 day late) is not yet overwhelming, this trend is slowly picking up.  

“Although historically low unemployment has kept consumers’ financial footing generally strong, stubbornly high prices and climbing interest rates may be testing some borrowers’ ability to repay their debts,” van der Klaauw said. 

This percentage is credit card Balances that were shifted to series delinquency in In Q4-2021, the rate of change was around 3.2%. According to the N.Y. Fed, this increased to approximately 4.01% in 2022. In total, 18.3 million borrowers were behind in their payments. credit card Payouts in 2022 is compared to 5.8 in 2019. 

Younger Americans are More likely to have a difficult time with credit card debt 

Take a look at how many borrowers are currently in default. are Research by the N.Y. Fed revealed that younger people can become delinquent. Americans are The most difficult are the ones who struggle. People who are most in need of help. in Their 20s and 30s are Missing credit card Transitioning to serious delinquency and payments at higher rates that they were before the pandemic. 

Van der Klaauw observed that the battle among the younger generation is a constant struggle Americans to keep afloat—and out of serious debt—is likely due to a combination of inflation and higher interest rates cutting into monthly budgets. Pay raises generally haven’t kept up to inflation. This means real disposable income. Americans Actually, it actually did. in 2022. This means there are many Americans You might be paying more for groceries and gas. credit According to N.Y. Fed research, cards face greater payments because of spiking interest rate. 

Despite this, it is possible to still enjoy the benefits of credit card delinquency rates tick up, the trend hasn’t yet hit a “worrisome” Level by itself in Researchers believe this is partly because the U.S. has just come off of a time of historical lows before the pandemic. This could indicate that younger borrowers may be at risk. are Student loan holders are more likely to be able to repay their student loans debt This is currently in a payment freeze. 

After payments have resumed, anyone who are Are you struggling to pay your monthly bills? credit card It is possible for bills to be fall further behind when they need to also juggle loan repayments

A recession threat is another concern. A recession is usually a catalyst for growth. in Jump in unemployment rates. Right now, delinquency rates are rising in Researchers note that despite a strong labor market, there are still some problems. The researchers note that if unemployment rates rise sharply delinquencies could result. are It is also expected to increase. If the historical unemployment rate remains low, can delinquencies increase?

Researchers are currently the ones to thank. are Pay attention.  

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