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U.S. consumers collectively owe an eye-popping $1.17 trillion in credit card debt — a record — according to estimates the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released this week. But while there are still major financial risks for carrying hefty balances, the researchers said the data suggests that “rising debt burdens remain manageable” for the typical consumer. Prices are still going up, but they’re not going up as fast, and incomes are once again going up at a faster rate than expenses. Earnings growth has averaged 6.2% per year since the pandemic began, compared to the cumulative debt balance rising 4% per year. “Especially for higher-risk borrowers, credit card and auto loan delinquencies are the highest in a dozen years, and that’s with unemployment at 4%.
Persons: , Donald Trump, they’re, Greg McBride What’s, TransUnion, That’s, , Greg McBride, , McBride Organizations: ’ paychecks, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York Fed, Commerce Department, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bankrate Locations: ’ paychecks . U.S
Now that the central bank is lowering rates — with a new quarter point rate cut announced by the Fed on Thursday — experts say having money in cash can still be a competitive strategy. Yet just how much cash to set aside is a question every individual investor needs to determine. Strive for at least a six-month emergency fundMost financial advisors recommend having cash set aside so that unexpected expenses don't blow your budget or cause you to rack up credit card debt. However, having a year's worth of expenses set aside may also be reasonable, depending on your household budget, she said. For many individuals, inflation and having too many expenses has made finding cash to set aside more difficult.
Persons: Nopphon, Greg McBride, Callie Cox, that's, Cox, Natalie Colley, Colley Organizations: Istock, Getty, Federal Reserve, Fed, Ritholtz Wealth Management, Francis Financial, Finance Locations: New York
download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In today's big story, the Fed cutting interest rates yesterday was never really in doubt . Additional rate cuts aren't as clear, though, as Donald Trump's proposed widespread tariffs could slow down the Fed's plans . The market is indicating inflation could lead the Fed to keep borrowing rates high. AdvertisementGreg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com, told Insider Today that Fed Chair Jerome Powell didn't indicate a pause in cuts was coming in December during Thursday's press conference.
Persons: , MANDEL NGAN, Chelsea Jia Feng, Donald Trump's, Paul Krugman, It's, Chip Somodevilla, Greg McBride, Jerome Powell didn't, Powell, McBride, There's, Dominique Lapointe, Lapointe, Trump, ANGELA WEISS, Morningstar, Trump's, Dave Sekera, Goldman execs, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Donald Trump, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Elon Musk, David Zaslav, Zaslav, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, Ella Hopkins, Amanda Yen, Milan Sehmbi Organizations: Business, Service, Getty Images, BI, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Fed, Manulife Investment Management, Morningstar, Elon, Trump, Keystone State, Big Tech's, Walmart, Target, Costco, Big Media, Warner Bros, Discovery, Paramount, Sony Locations: AFP, China, Pennsylvania, New York, London
But that doesn’t mean as a result interest rates are now low — or will soon be low. “‘Falling interest rates’ are not the same as ‘low interest rates.’ Interest rates are high and will only decline to ‘not as high’ as … we move into 2025,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate. Credit cards: Just before the Fed cut its key rate in September, the average credit card rate was 20.78%, according to Bankrate. Another option: Try transferring your balance to a credit card from a credit union or local bank. Before the Fed’s September rate cut many of those accounts were offering yields between 4.25% and 5.3%, according to those listed on Bankrate.com.
Persons: , Greg McBride, Matt Schulz, Chris Diodato, they’re, Freddie Mac, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, ” McBride, Sinead Colton Grant, Colton Grant, , Don’t, Diodato, you’re, BNY, they’ve Organizations: CNN, Reserve, Bankrate, Fed, LendingTree, Treasury, Savings Locations: Treasuries
The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday. It follows a 50-basis-point rate cut in September — the first cut in four years. CME FedWatch, which forecasts interest rate changes based on market predictions, estimated an all-but-certain 25 basis point cut as of Wednesday afternoon. "Borrowers should understand that 'falling interest rates' are not the same as 'low interest rates,'" Greg McBride, Bankrate's chief financial analyst, said in a commentary. AdvertisementWhat are your financial plans if the Fed makes another rate cut?
Persons: , Donald Trump, Trump, Jerome Powell, Powell, Helene, Milton, Cory Stahle, Julia Pollak, Greg McBride Organizations: Federal, Service, FedWatch, Boeing, BLS, Federal Reserve, PCE, Fed, asheffey
The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday. It follows a 50-basis-point rate cut in September — the first cut in four years. CME FedWatch, which forecasts interest rate changes based on market predictions, estimated an all-but-certain 25 basis point cut as of Friday afternoon. Advertisement"Borrowers should understand that 'falling interest rates' are not the same as 'low interest rates,'" Greg McBride, Bankrate's chief financial analyst, said in a commentary. What are your financial plans if the Fed makes another rate cut?
Persons: , Jerome Powell, Powell, Helene, Milton, Cory Stahle, Julia Pollak, Greg McBride Organizations: Federal, Service, FedWatch, Boeing, BLS, Federal Reserve, PCE, Fed, asheffey
The market had become all but impenetrable after mortgage rates went from historic lows in 2020 to their highest levels in a generation last year. “And I think if we even go down to 5.9%, that would be really psychologically impactful to the housing market. The current 6.2% mortgage rate average is, of course, preferable to last year’s peak of 7.8% — a difference that could translate to hundreds of dollars in monthly payments. As my colleague Samantha Delouya wrote this week, a drop in mortgage rates could be a double-edged sword. “A further drop in mortgage rates could bring a surge of demand that makes it tougher to actually buy a house.”
Persons: ” Daniel Alpert, Alpert, , ” Daryl Fairweather, Samantha Delouya, , Greg McBride Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Westwood Capital, Fed, Bankrate Locations: New York
How to make the Fed rate cut work for you
  + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +11 min
In its August survey of car shoppers, a majority (64%) said a Fed rate cut likely would affect the timing of their purchase. But here’s the thing: Car loan rates are pretty high — the average is 7.1% for new cars and 11.3% for used cars, according to Edmunds. If you do buy a home this year and are considering buying down points to reduce your mortgage rate, crunch some numbers first, Diodato advised. That’s because you will pay thousands of dollars to buy down your mortgage rate now, and then thousands more in fees to refinance. What to do if you’re not near retirement: Reconsider how much money you’re keeping in cash or cash-equivalent investments.
Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell, , , Greg McBride, McBride, Chris Diodato, Jessica Caldwell, ” McBride, Caldwell, We’re, Diodato, you’ll, won’t, Kathy Jones, Jones Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, Bankrate.com, Fed, Treasury, FDIC, Schwab Center, Financial Research, AAA, Bond Locations: Edmunds, Schwab.com
But a series of data points showing worsening economic conditions has made some analysts believe a 0.5% cut is more likely — and perhaps even necessary. “We do not seek or welcome further cooling in labor market conditions,” Fed Chair Jay Powell said in a speech last month. “A (0.5%) cut is usually done in emergencies,” like the Covid-19 pandemic, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s financial group. Mortgage interest rates have hit their lowest level since February 2023, while auto loan rates are also falling. A 0.5% cut would more directly affect rates tied to the fed funds rate, including credit cards, home equity lines of credit and small-business loans.
Persons: Steve Liesman, Jay Powell, Bill Dudley, ” Dudley, Preston Mui, Mui, , , Mark Zandi, Greg McBride, ” McBride Organizations: Federal, CNBC, Wall, Minneapolis Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Bloomberg News, Fed, Bankrate Locations: Minneapolis, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, America
While the Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, its actions affect borrowing costs throughout the economy. The most apparent effect: An interest rate cut could help ease the upward pressure on mortgage rates, making one piece of the homebuying equation more affordable. Most investors are betting that the Fed will cut its benchmark interest rate by just a quarter-point on Wednesday. Some financial advisers counsel to wait until you can get a mortgage rate that is a full percentage point below the rate you’re already paying, said Fairweather. “If you got a 7.5% mortgage rate, you may already be in the money to refinance,” she said.
Persons: Freddie Mac, , Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s, , it’s, Fairweather, We’re, Greg McBride, “ It’s, Leo Pareja Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, homebuyers, National Association of Realtors, Bankrate, eXp Realty Locations: Wells,
watch nowYoung adults face financial obstaclesOver decades, attitudes about marriage and parenthood have changed. More recently, experts say, the overall cost of living has become a contributing factor in decisions to forgo parenthood. Between 1991 and 2024, the costs for child care rose at nearly twice the pace of overall inflation. But parenthood and related child care costs are not just personal financial issues, he added. "The cost of child care is really an economic growth and productivity issue as well," House said — and that affects all Americans, not just those with young kids.
Persons: Greg McBride, Gen Zers, Pew, Brett House, , Brett Organizations: Pew Research Center, KPMG, Columbia Business School, Columbia Business Locations: U.S, millennials
Thomas BarwickMolly Richardson, 35, regularly contributes to her 401(k) plan, but the structural engineer said she isn't too worried about retirement yet. "There are so many individuals, young, mid-career and deep into their career, that are not saving enough for a healthy and secure retirement," said Jacqueline Reeves, the director of retirement plan services at Bryn Mawr Capital Management. The retirement savings shortfallOther reports show that a retirement savings shortfall is weighing heavily on Americans as they approach retirement age. LiveCareer's retirement fears survey found that 82% of workers have considered delaying their retirement due to financial reasons, while 92% fear they may need to work longer than originally planned. More than any other money misstep, not saving for retirement early enough is the biggest financial regret for 22% of Americans, according to another report by Bankrate.
Persons: Thomas Barwick Molly Richardson, isn't, Richardson, Gen Xers, Zers, Jacqueline Reeves, Reeves, Lisa Cutter, Cutter, they're, Catherine Collinson, you'll, Bryn Mawr's Reeves, Greg McBride Organizations: CNBC, Bryn Mawr Capital Management, Fidelity Investments, Pew Charitable, American, Transamerica Center, Retirement Studies, Transamerica Institute, Bankrate Locations: Jacksonville , Florida, U.S, Bryn Mawr, Terre Haute , Indiana
Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell said Friday he expects the central bank will cut its key interest rate in the near future in response to slower economic growth and cooling inflation. "The labor market is no longer overheated, and conditions are now less tight than those that prevailed before the pandemic. Starting in the spring of 2022, the Fed raised interest rates to a level not seen in nearly two decades as it worked to combat soaring inflation. "Make no mistake, if the labor market shows signs of further cooling, the Fed will cut with conviction," Shah wrote. Lower interest rates will provide some relief to consumer borrowers, but it will not be immediate, according to Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com.
Persons: Jay Powell, Powell, ” Powell, , Seema Shah, , Shah, Greg McBride, McBride Organizations: , Dow Jones, Nasdaq, midmorning, Market Committee, Management Locations: Jackson Hole , Wyoming, U.S
Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesThe president has no direct control over interest ratesAs it stands, the president exerts no direct control over interest rates. The Federal Reserve sets interest rates, and it operates independently of the White House. Last month, Trump said that if elected he would "bring interest rates way down." Now, however, Trump has cautioned against the Fed lowering rates shortly before the presidential election in November. "I think he's going to do something to probably help the Democrats, I think, if he lowers interest rates."
Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Raedle, Brett House, Trump, Fed Trump, Jerome Powell, Trump's, reappoint Powell, Powell, Greg McBride, Wells Fargo Organizations: Federal Reserve, White, Fed, Columbia Business School, Reserve Act, Republican, National Association of Black Journalists, Markets, U.S, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fox Business, Barclays Locations: Lago, Palm Beach , Florida, Chicago
In the wake of the rate hike cycle, the average credit card rate rose from 16.34% in March 2022 to more than 20% today — nearing an all-time high. A recent report from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve showed credit card delinquencies at an all-time high, according to data going back to 2012. The best move for those with credit card debt is to take matters into their own hands, advised Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. Home loan rates have already started to fall, largely due to the prospect of a Fed-induced economic slowdown. Student loansFederal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers aren't immediately affected by the Fed's moves.
Persons: Greg McBride, McBride, Matt Schulz, Jacob Channel Organizations: Philadelphia Federal, Treasury, Auto, Consumers
Given the many ways lower rates can affect your finances, here are some things to consider when deciding what steps to take in response. Here’s how lower rates may affect key areas of your financial life, along with tips on what to do about it. If that proves difficult to get, see if you can transfer your balance to a credit card from a credit union or local bank that offers lower rates than the biggest banks. And because many variables determine what that factor will be, it will be hard to figure out the impact of lower interest rates. His advice: Don’t keep more than six months’ to a year’s worth of living expenses in cash or cash equivalents.
Persons: , Greg McBride, ” McBride, , Chris Diodato, Diodato, you’ll, McBride, ” Dodiato, Collin Martin, don’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Bankrate, Schwab Center, Financial Research, AAA Locations: New York, Schwab.com
It's safe to say that Americans can count on an interest rate cut pretty soon, but probably not this week. On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee will announce its next interest rate decision, and it's once again expected to hold rates steady. However, the FOMC's September meeting could finally bring Americans the relief they've been waiting for — CME FedWatch showed markets think it's all but certain the Fed will cut rates that month. Lower interest rates would make borrowing more affordable for consumers and businesses alike. "You have kept interest rates too high for too long: it is time to cut rates," they wrote.
Persons: it's, Claudia Sahm, Greg McBride, There's, Jerome Powell, Powell, Sahm, Matt Colyar, September's, Elizabeth Warren, Jacky Rosen, John Hickenlooper Organizations: Service, Federal, CME FedWatch, Business, New Century Advisors, Fed, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Democratic, Moody's
What to do when the Fed starts cutting interest rates
  + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +8 min
New York CNN —Over the past couple of years, the Federal Reserve aggressively raised its key interest rate to a 23-year high to beat down inflation. But, realistically, how much you’ll save when the Fed lowers rates will depend on how quickly it cuts and by how much each time. Since loan amounts are substantial, this is one area where even small cuts in interest rates could make a meaningful difference in what a homebuyer will pay. A couple of quarter-point rate cuts from the Fed won’t make it meaningfully cheaper, McBride said. A few rate cuts won’t make much of a dent in today’s record-high average rate of 20.7%.
Persons: , Greg McBride, ” McBride, , Chris Diodato, McBride, Diodato, you’re, ” Dodiato Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Bankrate, Fed Locations: New York
39% of Americans worry they can’t pay the bills
  + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +6 min
New York CNN —Many Americans regularly worry they won’t be able to make ends meet. Even higher percentages of Latino (52%) and Black (46%) Americans said they’re worried most or all of the time about making ends meet, according to the poll. More than half (55%) of those making less than $50,000 a year similarly worry about having enough money to meet expenses. Even higher percentages of Latinos (52%), Black Americans (44%) and those under the age of 45 (47%) say they’ve taken extra work. Others say they’ve cut back on driving (41%) and they are taking on credit card debt to afford necessities (37%).
Persons: they’re, it’s, , Angela Russell, Russell, – they’re, Greg McBride, they’ve, McBride, who’ve, “ I’ve, Joe Biden, CNN’s Ariel Edwards, Levy, Dana Elobaid Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bankrate, Ohio, Walmart, SSRS Locations: New York, Ohio, Cincinnati
Some 6 in 10 U.S. adults say they're uncomfortable with their level of emergency savings, according to a recent survey from Bankrate. Financial planners generally recommend stashing three to six months' worth of living expenses away in an emergency fund. More than half of Americans — 56% — say they have less than three months of expenses saved, including 27% who say they have no emergency savings at all. Why you need emergency savingsWhen it comes to your financial priorities, establishing an emergency fund should be close to the top of your list, which may feel counterintuitive. And when it does, having an emergency fund prevents you from taking money away from your other financial goals.
Persons: Alyson Basso, Greg McBride Organizations: Financial, Hayden Wealth Management, Bankrate Locations: U.S, Bankrate, Middleton , Massachusetts
The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will leave interest rates unchanged. The central bank projected it would cut interest rates once in 2024, down from an estimate of three in March. For consumers already strained by the high cost of living, there is an added toll from persistently high borrowing costs. The Fed responded with a series of interest rate hikes that took its benchmark rate to the highest level in decades. The spike in interest rates caused most consumer borrowing costs to skyrocket, and now, more Americans are falling behind on their payments.
Persons: Greg McBride, that's Organizations: Federal Reserve, Finance, U.S
Online high-yield savings accountsThe best bang for your savings can still be had in online high-yield savings accounts at FDIC-insured banks, which yield way more than today’s 0.58% overall average savings rate. As of June 11, the average online savings account rate was 4.40%, according to DepositAccounts.com. If you leave it parked in a regular savings account at 0.5%, you’ll get $50 in interest for a year. As with any savings account, banks can lower the rate they offer — also known as the APY — at any time. Money market accounts and money market fundsMoney market deposit accounts and money market mutual funds are generating yields competitive with the best high-yield savings accounts.
Persons: , , Greg McBride, ” McBride, you’ll, , McBride, , Collin Martin, Martin Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, National Credit Union Share Insurance, Securities Investor Protection Corporation, Treasury, Fed, Schwab Center, Financial Research Locations: New York, Schwab.com, United States
If you paid late once and there's a high chance you will pay late again in the near future because of a financial issue, let the lender know, said Schulz. "It's one thing to go to the lender every other month and say, 'Hey, I was late with this, can you waive that?' If you made a one-time mistake, you can reach out to your lender and ask to have that late payment scrubbed from your credit report, experts say. "Your credit report is just a collection of a bunch of data points representing how good you are paying debts back," Schulz said. If lenders begin to "cherry pick" what goes on in the report, the data becomes unreliable, and it doesn't help lenders make decisions.
Persons: it's, Greg McBride, Schulz, McBride, " Schulz
Zero-down mortgages are making a comeback
  + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +8 min
That massive roadblock is being removed by a new zero-percent down mortgage program launched two weeks ago by one of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders. ‘Demand has been huge’These mortgages are only open to first-time homebuyers and those making no more than 80% of the area’s median income. That’s because in order to refinance at a lower rate, the homeowner would need to fully pay off that second mortgage. For instance, Bank of America launched a zero-down payment mortgage program in 2022 for first-time homebuyers in certain Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. “These mortgages are going to be ticking time bombs – just like subprime mortgages –unless home prices continue to increase very substantially,” Kelleher said.
Persons: Mat Ishbia, homebuyers, Christian Petersen, refinances, UWM, ” Alex Elezaj, they’d, , Patricia McCoy, McCoy, won’t, Bankrate, , Anneliese Lederer, ” Lederer, ” Dennis Kelleher, ” Kelleher, Jonathan Adams, ” UWM, Elezaj, , ” Elezaj, ” It’s, “ We’re, Greg McBride, Adams, ” Adams Organizations: CNN, United Wholesale Mortgage, Phoenix Suns NBA, Phoenix Suns, NBA, Oklahoma City, Footprint Center, Boston College Law School, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Reserve, Bank of America, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Responsible, Better, Saint Joseph’s University, Bankrate, , Wall Street Locations: Phoenix , Arizona
Most U.S. homebuyers taking out a mortgage opt for a 30-year fixed-rate — but they may not realize how unusual that offering is. "The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a uniquely American construct," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate. True to its name, a 30-year fixed spreads out repayment over 30 years, with an interest rate that remains the same for the life of the loan. In 2022, 89% of homebuyers applied for a 30-year mortgage, according to government data analyzed by Homebuyer.com. "If we did not have the dominance of the fixed-rate mortgage in the U.S. residential mortgage market, we would see a much higher level of stress among existing homeowners," McBride said.
Persons: Greg McBride, Jacob Channel, McBride Organizations: homebuyers, Bankrate, LendingTree, Homebuyer.com, Finance Locations: U.S
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