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"It is becoming clearer and clearer that the Fed isn't going to lower interest rates anytime soon," said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. "If Americans want lower interest rates, they're going to have to do it themselves." What determines your credit card rateSince most credit cards have a variable rate, there's a direct connection to the Fed's benchmark. It's also an ideal time for consumers to take advantage of all the options credit card issuers are offering. A balance transfer credit card moves your outstanding debt from one or more credit cards onto a new card, typically with a lower interest rate.

Persons: —, Matt Schulz, Michele Raneri, aren't, Schulz, Ted Rossman, Rossman, It's Organizations: Federal Reserve, TransUnion, Finance, Treasury Department Locations: U.S

☆ High Fed Rates Are Not Crushing Growth. Wealthier People Help Explain Why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

More than two years after the Federal Reserve started lifting interest rates to restrain growth and weigh on inflation, businesses continue to hire, consumers continue to spend and policymakers are questioning why their increases haven’t had a more aggressive bite. The answer probably lies in part in a simple reality: High interest rates are not really pinching Americans who own assets like houses and stocks as much as many economists might have expected. Some people are feeling the squeeze of Fed policy. Credit card rates have skyrocketed, and rising delinquencies on auto loans suggest that people with lower incomes are struggling under their weight. Their house values are mostly holding up in spite of higher rates, stock indexes are hovering near record highs, and they can make meaningful interest on their savings for the first time in decades.

Persons: haven’t Organizations: Federal Reserve

☆ Americans are falling behind on their payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Americans are already struggling to keep up with their credit card payments. Strong consumer spending has buoyed the US economy through the Fed’s aggressive hiking cycle that has brought interest rates to a 23-year high. Economists say that Fed officials look closely at Americans’ ability to make their payments. Nunes, himself a former Republican congressman from California, pointed to how Trump Media has been among the most expensive stocks to borrow. “This is particularly troubling given that ‘naked’ short selling often entails sophisticated market participants profiting at the expense of retail investors,” the Trump Media CEO wrote.

Persons: New York CNN —, Austan Goolsbee, ’ ”, ”, Ramon Laguarta, Matt Egan, Devin Nunes, ” Nunes, Nunes, Read, Hanna Ziady, Colm Kelleher, “ Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Chicago Federal, Society for, New York Fed, ISI, PepsiCo, Commerce Department, Atlanta Fed, Social, Trump Media, Trump Media & Technology Group, Truth Social, Financial Services, Republican, Traders, UBS, Credit Suisse Locations: New York, California, Switzerland, Swiss

☆ Rise of Hate Spending: Americans Detest High Prices but Keep Shopping
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

According to experts I talked to, the surge in hate spending can be attributed to various factors. They're aware prices aren't going back to 2019 levels, and given everything everyone's just been through, they may as well live it up. She told me that she often finds herself outraged by prices — and then ultimately succumbs to the forces of capitalism. It's easy to say you want to cut back on spending, given high prices, but when a friend asks whether you want to go shopping, it's hard to say no. Hart, the Illinois writer with a brand-new Stanley cup, sees some of her spending as a way to reclaim power.

Persons: Christ, Lydia Boussour, they're, everyone's, Jordan Hart, Hart, Boussour, —, they've, it's, acclimated, It's, Claire Tassin, Tassin, There's, Taylor Swift, jonesing, people's, Ravi Dhar, Dhar, he'd, he's, I've, she'd, she'll, Stanley Organizations: Retail, Consumers, Morning, Center, Yale School of Management Locations: America, Illinois, YOLO splurging, Europe, York

☆ Bank of America's top global strategist warns of growing bubble risk in the stock market as the economy heads for a no-landing scenario — and shares 3 charts showing the market could be headed for tro
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewMichael Hartnett, Bank of America's top global strategist, thinks a no-landing scenario is the most-likely outcome for the US economy in the months ahead. That means the labor market would remain strong, but inflation would also stay above the Federal Reserve's long-term goal of 2%. While that's fine for now, Hartnett warns it's a path that eventually leads to trouble for the economy and stocks. "We say rising no landing risks = rising hard landing risks," Hartnett said in an April 11 note. The fund's price dipped below its 200-day moving average in 2020 and 2022, when the economy slowed and stocks underperformed.

Persons: —, Michael Hartnett, Hartnett, it's, Michael Landsberg Organizations: Service, Bank of America's, Business, Consumer, Bank of America, Landsberg Bennett, Wealth Management, Fed Locations: REITs, Ukraine

☆ Commercial real estate foreclosures have spiked 117% over the past year
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Commercial foreclosures jumped 117% year-to-date in March, data from ATTOM shows. AdvertisementThe commercial real estate market is still struggling, made all the more clear by the rapid upswing in property foreclosures. Foreclosure activity jumped by 117% year-over-year in March, real estate data provider ATTOM reported on Wednesday. While high, commercial foreclosures are still under a 2014 peak of 889. AdvertisementEarlier this month, Fitch Ratings warned of a rising global contagion risk from commercial real-estate losses.

Persons: —, moratoriums, it's, delinquencies, Jamie Woodwell Organizations: Service, Mortgage Bankers Association, Real, Fitch

☆ A CIO details 4 reasons why the recent inflation spike is temporary — and says the Fed will still cut rates 3 times this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Raymond James' CIO also explained why he still sees the Fed cutting interest rates three times in 2024. But according to Raymond James chief investment officer Larry Adam, inflation is set to reverse lower and the Fed is going to cut interest rates at least three times this year. AdvertisementIf the economy slows, then so should inflation, and it should give the Fed more confidence to begin cutting interest rates. Real-time inflation metrics show a sharp declineWhile official government metrics show stubbornly high rent and used vehicle prices, real-time measures show considerably lower prices. The point is: there should be plenty of disinflation in the pipeline as CPI converges with some of these more real-time metrics," Adam said.

Persons: Raymond James, Larry Adam, Adam Organizations: Reserve, Fed, Labor, ISM Manufacturing, ISM

☆ Inflation will be on investors' minds next week as worries over sky-high valuations grow
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The February consumer price index, set for release Tuesday, and the producer price index, due out Thursday, could hurt equities if the reports come out hotter than expected. The S & P 500 closed out the week with losses, but has advanced more than 7% for the year. Some stubborn spots in inflation February's consumer inflation data next week comes after January's surprisingly hot report dented investor hopes the so-called last mile to the Fed's 2% inflation target will be easy. Export Price Index (February) 8:30 a.m. Import Price Index (February) 8:30 a.m.

Persons: Giuseppe Sette, FactSet, James Ragan, Davidson, Nordstrom, Davidson's Ragan, Kathleen Grace, Russell, Office's Grace, Grace, Price, Jeff Cox, Nick Wells Organizations: Fed, Nvidia, Meta, Oracle, Treasury Budget, Adobe, Price, Index, Manufacturing Locations: chug, Michigan

☆ Car Deals Are Easier to Find but Lenders Are Tightening Their Terms
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

New cars are more available this spring, and manufacturers have even begun offering deals to entice buyers. But at the same time, lenders have been tightening the terms of car loans as they deal with a rising number of delinquencies. That has made it harder for some people to get affordable loans. The impact was seen at banks, credit unions and dealerships. “We are seeing credit access tighten in all channels,” said Sean Tucker, a senior editor at Kelley Blue Book, Cox’s car research and sales website.

Persons: ”, Sean Tucker, Kelley Organizations: Cox Automotive

☆ Americans’ credit scores are falling. That hasn’t happened in a decade
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Even as unemployment remains historically low and recession fears fade, consumer credit scores are starting to buckle. Although FICO scores remain near record highs — and well above pre-pandemic levels — this marks the first drop in a decade. FICO said the one-point drop in credit scores in late 2023 was driven by an increase in Americans missing payments and also by rising debt levels. However, he said this one-point drop in credit scores is not necessarily a red flag. “The overall outlook for consumer credit quality, and consumer spending growth,” Faucher said, “is still very solid.”

Persons: FICO, FICO’s, Arkali, ”, “, ” Arkali, Banks, ‘, Gus Faucher, Faucher, it’s “, ” Faucher Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, New York Fed, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, ’ Consumers, NY Fed, PNC Locations: New York

☆ As late, missed payments rise, credit card borrowers face 'consequences' for falling behind, CFPB says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

watch nowThe consequences of missed credit card paymentsThe CFPB found that late fees are often layered on top of other punitive measures credit card companies impose on consumers who miss payments, including negative credit reporting, which can hurt their credit rating. "When consumers don't make required payments, they can face a long list of consequences. More consumers are falling behindCollectively, consumers are having a harder time managing debt amid high interest rates and higher prices. Not only are more cardholders carrying debt from month to month but more are also falling behind on payments, recent reports also show. Credit card delinquency rates surged in 2023, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found.

Persons: Rohit Chopra, — Organizations: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Reserve Bank of New, New York Fed Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Here’s why regional banks have so much commercial real estate exposure
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —It’s no secret that commercial real estate (CRE) has become a source of stress for banks. Regional banks were on high alert recently after New York Community Bancorp (NYCB) reported steeper-than-expected future losses on commercial real estate loans. So why is it that the smaller, regional banks are so much more exposed to commercial real estate? Office real estate is among the bank’s smaller commercial real estate subcomponents. Robbins of Valley National Bank told CNN “we remain comfortable with our diverse and granular commercial real estate portfolio.”Office real estate is just one component of commercial real estate, albeit the most worrisome to banks and economists.

Persons: New York CNN —, Goldman Sachs, Fitch, Banks, BankRegData, Flagstar, “, JPMorgan Chase, —, Michael Brochstein, it’s, Ira Robbins, Robbins, CNN “, Carlos Barria, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York Community Bancorp, Flagstar Bank, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Bank, JPMorgan, Getty, Valley National Bank, CNN, Fitch, FDIC, Reuters Locations: New York, Morristown , New Jersey

☆ The two-letter word helping this lender buck the delinquency storm
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But that’s not an accident,” Max Levchin, Affirm’s CEO and a co-founder of PayPal, told CNN in a recent interview. Levchin credits a willingness to say a two-letter word, one that’s not exactly associated with the surging BNPL industry, N-O. It’s that we are honest when we tell them, ‘Hey, we don’t think you should borrow right now.’”Affirm started saying “no” more often in the spring of 2022. That’s when Levchin started observing signs of “financial stress” as inflation surged and gas prices approached record highs. “Say you’re asking to borrow to buy an $800 TV and we really don’t think it’s healthy for you, financially…We can say, ‘That’s too much now.

Persons: “ We’re, that’s, ” Max Levchin, Levchin, “ It’s, ’ ”, ”, “, Max Levchin, Gross, we’ll, ” Levchin, it’s, BNPL, There’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, PayPal, CNN, New York Fed, Target, Walmart, Royal, American Airlines, NY Fed, Federal Reserve, Biden, Trump Locations: New York, Helsinki, Finland, Royal Caribbean, Covid

☆ Credit card interest rates are at record highs. Cards have 'never been this expensive,’ CFPB says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The share of consumers with "subprime" credit scores who hold a credit card has been "relatively stable," they said. Major credit card issuers got $25 billion in extra interest by raising their average APR margin over the last 10 years, the CFPB estimated. "Higher APR margins have allowed credit card companies to generate returns that are significantly higher than other bank activities." They're among the nation's biggest credit card issuers. How to manage credit card interest

Persons: Martinez, Seikel, Lindsey Johnson, Greg McBride, McBride, That's Organizations: Bank, Getty, Consumer Bankers Association, CBA, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Financial, Discover Financial Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

US consumers are struggling with soaring credit card debt and rising interest rates. Credit card debt is now at record levels, and interest rates on those cards have soared. AdvertisementOf that total debt, credit card balances are growing the fastest. While this could create a parallel between today's credit card crisis and the mortgage crisis of 15 years ago, there are a few important differences today. AdvertisementStill, the rise in credit card debt and delinquencies could point to cracks in the strength of Americans' spending power.

Persons: Thomas Nitzsche, Gen Z, millennials, Nitzsche, Ginger Chambless, Chambless Organizations: Business, Money Management, MMI, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Federal, JPMorgan Chase, Federal Reserve, Adobe Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Wells Fargo

☆ The Fed engineered a miracle. Now comes the hard part.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Yet two months into 2024, Jerome Powell and his Fed colleagues seems to have nearly pulled off what many would have called a miracle not long ago. Between a rock and a hard placeThe January Fed meeting minutes reinforced policymakers' careful approach for the months ahead. AdvertisementTo be sure, as far as policy expectations, markets have only recently arrived on the same page as the Fed. "The Fed doesn't want to be seen as having allowed inflation to reignite," he added. "The Fed doesn't want to undo all the good work they've done, and needlessly push the economy into a recession."

Persons: —, Jerome Powell, Powell, James McCann, Abrdn, Gene Goldman, CME's, Gregory Draco, Draco, Larry Summers, Summers, Cetera's Goldman, Goldman, Abrdn's McCann, McCann Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Business, Co, Fed, Cetera Investment Management, Bloomberg

☆ Shopping online at 2 a.m.? That’s a red flag for buy now, pay later lender Affirm
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Americans shopping online after midnight often make riskier transactions and are more likely to default on their loans, according to Affirm Chief Financial Officer Michael Linford. The fintech firm uses the hour a consumer attempts a transaction as a key data point to help determine whether to approve loans, Linford told CNBC in a recent interview. Other factors include a user's repayment history with Affirm and transaction data from credit bureau Experian. Shoppers could be inebriated or under financial or emotional duress and desperately seeking credit, Linford said. The buy now, pay later industry offers installment loans that typically range from no-interest short-term transactions to rates as high as 36% for longer-term credit.

Persons: Michael Linford, Linford, Max Levchin Organizations: CNBC, PayPal

☆ Premarket stocks: US companies are still worried about an economic shock
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business’ Before the Bell newsletter. But America’s publicly traded companies are flashing a key sign of economic uncertainty — they’ve been hoarding cash. And companies with existing and expensive debt in a high-interest rate environment would likely want to use their cash to pay it down. “We interpret this correlation as evidence that cash reserves act like insurance against sudden economic shocks,” wrote the researchers. The missing bolts are apparently not the only problem.

Persons: America’s, ” Vijay Govindarajan, ”, Dartmouth’s Govindarajan, Anup Srivastava, Chandrani Chatterjee, Max, Jennifer Homendy, Homendy, Evan Spiegel, Tuesday’s, Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, CNN, Moody’s Investors, Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, University of Texas, JPMorgan, NTSB, Boeing, National Transportation Safety, Max, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Wall Street, Meta Locations: New York, Ukraine, Arlington, Alaska, Oregon, ”

☆ Credit card delinquencies surged in 2023, indicating 'financial stress,' New York Fed says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Credit card delinquencies surged more than 50% in 2023 as total consumer debt swelled to $17.5 trillion, the New York Federal Reserve reported Tuesday. The quarterly increase at an annualized pace was around 8.5%, New York Fed researchers said. Credit card debt, however, jumped 14.5% from the same period in 2022. Credit card debt as a share of income is still below pre-pandemic levels. Mortgage debt increased 2.8% in 2023, while the delinquency rate increased to 0.82%, up a quarter percentage point from the previous year.

Persons: Delinquencies, delinquencies, Wilbert van der, Joe Biden Organizations: New York Federal Reserve, New York Fed, Auto, Federal Reserve, Washington

☆ Credit card and auto loan delinquencies are the highest in more than a decade
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Americans — particularly Millennials and those with lower incomes — are becoming increasingly overextended financially: Credit card and auto loan delinquencies have not only surpassed pre-pandemic levels, they’re the highest they’ve been in more than a decade. Debt balances increased across the board, with credit card balances rising $50 billion to hit a new nominal high of $1.13 trillion (when adjusting for inflation, balances have yet to surpass the levels seen in 2008). “Credit card and auto loan transitions into delinquency are still rising above pre-pandemic levels,” Wilbert van der Klaauw, economic research adviser at the New York Fed, said in a statement. “The delinquency numbers are pretty eye-opening, especially when it comes to credit cards,” Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, told CNN via email. Student loan delinquencies will not be reported to the credit bureaus until later this year.

Persons: ” Wilbert van der, Matt Schulz, “, delinquencies Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve Bank of New, York Fed, New York Fed, CNN Locations: New York

☆ Younger Americans are falling behind on credit card and car payments, New York Fed says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Delinquencies are rising among younger borrowers in particular, the New York Fed said. Younger borrowers have surpassed pre-pandemic levels of credit card delinquencies. AdvertisementYounger Americans are falling behind on paying credit card and auto loans, with the rate of late payments rising above pre-pandemic levels in the last quarter, the New York Federal Reserve said in a report. Total credit card balances hit $1.13 trillion and auto loans outstanding increased to $1.61 trillion. Advertisement"Serious credit card delinquencies increased across all age groups, notably with younger borrowers surpassing pre-pandemic levels," New York Fed researchers wrote.

Persons: — Organizations: New York Fed, Service, New York Federal Reserve, NY Fed, Fed

A combination of inflation, increased interest rates, and the end of pandemic-tied relief, such as the moratorium on student loan payments, has led to record credit card debt, experts say. A recent report from credit rating company Moody’s found credit card delinquencies are now well above 2019, or pre-pandemic levels. If you're facing increased credit card debt, while feeling the ongoing effects of inflation, here's what to consider:ASK FOR A RATE CUTPhotos You Should See View All 45 ImagesOne of the first things you should do is ask your credit card company to lower your rates. While the Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that its first interest rate cut is likely months away, the average credit card interest rate is already far and away higher than the rate set by the Fed. PAY OFF HIGHER-INTEREST DEBT FIRSTKnown as the “avalanche approach,” paying off debt that accumulates interest more quickly will always be more efficient than paying off lower-interest debt first.

Persons: Moody’s, Silvio Tavares, ”, Kia McCallister, Charles Schwab Organizations: —, Federal Reserve, ASK, Fed, National Foundation, Credit, nfcc.org, Federal Trade, Public, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Federation of America, America, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: realtor.com

While there's no universal minimum credit score to rent an apartment, landlords generally prefer applicants with a good credit score, which is at least 670. While your credit score will suffice for some landlords, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, landlords are also allowed to view your credit reports. The average credit score of a Gen Z consumer is 680 compared to the average baby boomer's credit score of 745. Though these services won't directly help you build credit, keeping track of your credit score is a crucial part of the credit building process. Apartment credit score requirements frequently asked questionsCan you rent an apartment if you do not have credit?

Persons: —, TransUnion, Kendall Meade, Jay Zigmont, Will, Jamela Adam, Read Organizations: Fair, Childfree, Forbes, . News, Mint Intuit Locations: AnnualCreditReport.com, SoFi, Chevron

Amazon on Thursday reported better-than-expected revenue and profits for the fourth quarter, driven by strong consumer spending during the holiday shopping season. The Seattle-based e-commerce company said it earned $170 billion in revenue and $10.6 billion in profits during the last three months of 2023, beating expectations from analysts surveyed by FactSet. In a statement, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy called it a “record-breaking” holiday shopping season for Amazon. The company said its online retail business earned $70.5 billion in revenue during the quarter, a 9% jump compared to $64.53 billion during the same period in 2022. Roughly an hour before it released its earnings on Thursday, Amazon announced a new generative AI-powered shopping assistant called Rufus.

Persons: Andy Jassy, Rufus, – Organizations: FactSet, Amazon, San Locations: Seattle, San Francisco

The firm’s monthly survey showed 107,000 jobs were added, well below the 145,000 estimate. “Progress on inflation has brightened the economic picture despite a slowdown in hiring and pay,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The ADP report comes two days ahead of the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report for January, with consensus estimates for about a 180,000 gain in payrolls after December’s better-than-expected 216,000 increase. “The January jobs report will likely show that the labor market started the year on a solid note,” said Lydia Boussour, EY senior economist. The strong job market and U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter led the International Monetary Fund to boost its projections of global economic growth this year.

Persons: ”, Nela Richardson, December’s, Lydia Boussour, EY, “, Jerome Powell, José Torres Organizations: ADP, Labor, Federal Reserve, Observers, Interactive, International Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: U.S, payrolls, hawkish, –

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