A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia found credit-card delinquency rates have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with the share of balances 30 days past due hovering at the highest mark since late 2012.
Those figures have steadily climbed since then, however, and the spending behavior reflects "greater consumer fragility," Philadelphia Fed economists said.
"During the same period, the share of accounts making the full payment has moderated, driven by strong consumer spending and dwindling government support.
"The average American's budget doesn't have a whole lot of wiggle room, so when prices go up to the degree they have in recent years, it's a big deal," said LendingTree's chief credit analyst Matt Schulz.
A January 8 report from LendingTree found that in the largest 100 US metros, 29.6% of Americans were behind on at least one debt payment between July 1 and September 30, 2023.
"The massive, constant rise in rates over the past two years has shrunk people's financial margin for error even further."
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