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☆ Go long Hilton and Walmart: HSBC's stock strategy for playing the divided U.S. consumer
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Strong consumer demand has helped the U.S. economy weather the Federal Reserve's rate hikes, avoiding a hard landing where growth and employment turn lower. The high-end consumer Inui estimates the net worth of high-end consumers is actually accelerating to a high-single-digit rate. "As a result, discount retailers are facing high shrinkage, restaurants are becoming increasingly promotional to boost traffic and retailers with strong value propositions are gaining share." HSBC called McDonald's one of the stocks that offers "a strong value proposition" to consumers tightening their belts. Another retailer HSBC named was Target , which has an "expect more, pay less" strategy emphasizing private labels to boost sales.

Persons: HSBC's, Nicole Inui, Hilton, Marriott, Inui, Innui, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: HSBC, Viking Holdings, Worldwide Holdings, Marriott International, Royal, Motors Locations: U.S, Americas, Royal Caribbean

☆ Millennial fiancées making $230,000 will 'constantly feel poor' unless they change their habits, says money expert
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Spending on travel, shopping, means 'losing money every single month'Going through their finances, Sethi found the couple has done relatively well at keeping their fixed costs in check. But a look at their discretionary spending showed that Maddie has good reason to feel anxious about their finances. "It's this compulsion to be at everything and live such a social life [that] just drains us," Paul adds. Having a big wedding for themselves is important to Maddie and Paul, as is their financial security, they reply. The idea of "keeping up with the Joneses" and lifestyle creep are common pitfalls because humans are social animals, Sethi says.

Persons: Sethi, Paul isn't, Maddie, They've, they're, Paul, It's

☆ Once you hit this credit score 'you're good,' says credit expert—here's how to get even better
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"Once you've hit the mid 700's you're good. If you run a $5,000 balance on a credit card with a $10,000 limit, for instance, your ratio is 50%. To boost your score, credit experts recommend keeping your ratio under 30%, and ideally as low as 10%. That might mean cutting back on spending, asking your credit card company to raise your limit or opening a new credit card — as long as it won't encourage you to spend more. Add more good information to your credit historyEven if you have blemishes on your credit history, "you can offset them by filling up your report with good things," says Rossman.

Persons: you've, Ted Rossman, it's, Rod Griffin, Griffin, AnnualCreditReport.com, You'd, Rossman Organizations: Bankrate, Experian, CNBC

☆ Here's why car payments are so high right now
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Robert Ferris | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In the first quarter, 23% of customers with trade-ins had negative equity of more than $6,167 on average, according to Edmunds. It is not uncommon for car owners to have a bit of negative equity on a vehicle when they trade it in. About one-third of trade-ins carried negative equity prior to the pandemic. It is the amount of negative equity that is concerning, says Edmunds Senior Director of Insights Ivan Drury. The rate for a trade-in with negative equity was $887, at a rate of 8.1%, for nearly 76 months.

Persons: Edmunds, Ivan Drury ., Drury, You've, David Paul Morris Organizations: Ivan Drury . Trading, Ford, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Edmunds, Colma , California

☆ Opinion | Larry Summers Isn’t Second-Guessing the Government on Inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Peter Coy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Interest payments aren’t counted in the inflation rate. I get lots of mail from people saying the absence of interest rates from the Consumer Price Index seems like sleight of hand by the government, the economics profession or both. So I probably won’t win a lot of friends by saying that I think the way the government economists do things is correct. But when they’re right, they’re right. I’ll grant that higher interest payments do feel just as inflationary as higher prices for ice cream, bowling balls and haircuts.

Persons: Lawrence Summers Organizations: Consumer, Treasury, Harvard

☆ The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady — here's what that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

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

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Nio, Nvidia, UPS, Amazon, Oracle, Lyft, Microsoft, Walmart, Exxon, Netflix, AT&T & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

We reiterate our Buy rating." Deutsche Bank reiterates Adobe as buy Deutsche said it's sticking with its buy rating ahead of earnings next week. Loop reiterates Best Buy as buy Loop said it's sticking with its buy rating on the stock. "We maintain our above consensus Best Buy estimates, reiterate our Buy rating, and are raising our price target to $100 from $93." Morgan Stanley reiterates Walmart as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating on the stock.

Persons: Oppenheimer, Wells, it's, TD Cowen, Wolfe, NVDA, Morgan Stanley, Nio, BTIG, Ally, Mizuho, JPMorgan, JPMorgan downgrades Vail, Lynch Organizations: Oppenheimer, UPS, Amazon Web Services, Nvidia, Norfolk Southern & Union Pacific, Union Pacific, Norfolk, Microsoft, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche, Colgate, Palmolive, China EV, Oracle, Adobe, JPMorgan, United Rentals, Barclays, Netflix, Vail, Exxon, " Bank of America, of America, underperform Bank of America, Bank of America, 3M, Citi, AT, Unilever

☆ Self-made millionaire shares 3 steps to stop overspending and save more: 'Make it automatic'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

However, they haven't made much progress toward a better financial situation since then, they recently told self-made millionaire Ramit Sethi on his "I Will Teach You to be Rich" podcast. It's not the worst debt situation Sethi has seen on the show. Their fixed costs, including debt payments, groceries, gas and other necessities are equal to, if not higher, than their monthly income. Sethi emphasized that there are underlying emotional issues leading to the spending problem, and encouraged Elizabeth to work with a therapist. As for their shopping habits, he laid out three tips anyone can use to start getting their spending under control.

Persons: Elizabeth, Jon, Ramit Sethi, Rich, we've, We're, It's, Sethi Organizations: Walmart, Target

☆ 25% of consumers recently used a buy now, pay later loan, report finds. What to know as they become popular
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

As buy now, pay later programs become more common, some shoppers are using this payment structure to make ends meet. Such short-term financing plans are the second-most-used form of credit payment among consumers in the U.S., according to a new report by NerdWallet. Meanwhile, 25% said they had used BNPL services in the last 12 months. Far fewer consumers had used a cash advance app (10%) or a payday loan (6%) in the last 12 months, NerdWallet found. An equal share, 8%, expect to use BNPL for necessities in the coming 12 months.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, NerdWallet, Sara Rathner, it's, Rathner Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of New, NerdWallet, Finance Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, U.S

☆ Americans are expected to splurge on travel this summer — again
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Analysts are expecting the Memorial Day weekend to usher in yet another summer of strong consumer spending on travel and other leisure activities. “We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president at AAA Travel, said in a release. Spending this summer will likely be a little softer than last year’s, they said, but still strong. The bank’s consumer travel survey showed that 72% of people said they’re planning to travel, with 36% saying they’ve already planned their trip. Even among respondents making less than $75,000 a year, more than 60% said they’re planning to travel this summer.

Persons: ” Paula Twidale, Royal Caribbean’s, ” David Tinsley, they’ve, Joelle, aren’t, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu “, Atsuko Sato, ”, Sato, ” Kabosu, Kabosu, Shiba, Loretta Mester, Neel Kashkari, Lisa Cook, Robin, John Williams, Raphael Bostic, Lorie Logan Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, Washington CNN —, Transportation Security Administration, AAA, AAA Travel, Bank of America Institute, Bank of America, Japan, Europe, New York Fed, Public Policy Research, Mizuho Financial, Federal, Global, Index, Board, HP, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Abercrombie, Fitch, Eagle Outfitters, Costco, Dell, Dollar, Hormel, US Commerce Department, US Labor Department, National Association of Realtors, China’s National Bureau of Statistics, Atlanta Fed Locations: Washington, Caribbean, South Korea, Switzerland, Colombia, Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico, Domestically , California, Florida, California, “, Sakura, CAVA, Chewy, Burlington, Birkenstock, Nordstrom, Kohl’s

☆ Average consumer carries $6,218 in credit card debt, as more borrowers are falling behind on their payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Americans now owe $1.12 trillion on their credit cards, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Tuesday. Keeping up with credit card debt is getting more difficult. "Rent, when you have it, auto loans, utilities, these are all things consumers prioritize ahead of credit cards." As a result, credit card delinquency rates are higher across the board, the New York Fed and TransUnion found. Over the last year, roughly 8.9% of credit card balances transitioned into delinquency, the New York Fed reported.

Persons: Charlie Wise, TransUnion's, Young, Wise, TransUnion, Kassandra Martinchek Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of New, New York Fed, Finance, Fed, Urban Institute Locations: TransUnion, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, , New

☆ Auto incentives are back — but high interest rates weaken deals for buyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Simonskafar | E+ | Getty ImagesIncentives are coming back to the auto market, but high interest rates are weakening those deals for car shoppers. In today's market, consumers are more likely to see it as "free money," she said, especially as auto loan rates stay high. watch nowWhen you roll that into your new car loan, it increases your payment. Search for available incentives: Car shoppers will have to a do lot more shopping and research to find available incentives, Caldwell said. Know your credit score: While shoppers might come across 0% financing offers, those deals are often reserved for buyers with excellent credit.

Persons: Jessica Caldwell, Trump, Brian Moody, Kelley, Edmunds, Caldwell, That's, that's, Moody Organizations: Getty, Finance, Biden Locations: Edmunds

☆ The pandemic has changed when Americans expect to retire
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Most non-retired adults have some type of retirement savings, but only 36% think their savings are on track. New research from economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York finds that this retirement savings deficit hasn’t made a dent in when Americans plan to exit, or partially exit, the workforce. “The pandemic-induced change in retirement expectations may continue to affect the labor market in years to come,” they wrote. Yes, but: This is a survey of expectations, researchers at the New York Fed are quick to point out. Just because Americans say they plan to shift to part-time work or retire early, it doesn’t mean that they’ll be able to.

Persons: Felix Aidala, Gizem Kosar, Wilbert van der, ”, They’re, Alicia Wallace, delinquencies, Joelle, CNN’s Parija, Donna Morris, Morris, ” Morris Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Census, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Social Security, New, Survey, SCE, triannual, Social, Social Security Agency, Lawmakers, New York Fed, Federal Reserve Bank of New, “, Public Policy Research, Credit, Walmart, CNN, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: New York, United States, York, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Bentonville , Arkansas, Walmart’s Dallas, Atlanta, Toronto, Bentonville, San Francisco Bay, Hoboken , New Jersey

☆ High Interest Rates Are Hitting Poorer Americans the Hardest
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Ben Casselman | Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

High interest rates haven’t crashed the financial system, set off a wave of bankruptcies or caused the recession that many economists feared. But for millions of low- and moderate-income families, high rates are taking a toll. More Americans are falling behind on payments on credit card and auto loans, even as many are taking on more debt than ever before. Monthly interest expenses have soared since the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates two years ago. She is making progress, but high rates aren’t helping.

Persons: ”, Ora Dorsey, Ms, Dorsey Organizations: Federal Reserve, Army Locations: Clarksville, Tenn

☆ Debt — and delinquencies — are on the rise for Americans
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New data released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed that as household debt balances grew during the first quarter, delinquencies also marched higher. Notably, the percentage of credit card balances in serious delinquency (90 days or more late) climbed to its highest level since 2012. The transitions into delinquency — especially serious delinquency — increased across all debt types, according to the report. Overall household debt grew by 1.1% during the first quarter to $17.69 trillion, according to data that is not adjusted for inflation. Credit card balances dipped (as they typically do post-holidays) by $14 billion to $1.12 trillion.

Persons: delinquencies, Joelle, Delinquencies Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve Bank of New, “, Public Policy Research, New York Fed, Credit Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, York, New

☆ 'The house is burning down': Money expert's advice for a couple with over $620,000 in debt
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Each month, they pay $3,700 for their mortgage, $3,342 on their credit card debt and $2,495 on their auto loans. 'The house is burning down'When Sethi asked Kevin and Michelle why they needed help despite their high income, Kevin said impulse buys like drinks at 7-Eleven have really added up. The couple owes $73,000 in credit card debt and $99,000 on two auto loans for luxury cars. "That's a total distraction from what's really going on here, which is the house is burning down." At the time of the podcast's recording, the couple's fixed costs came out to about 73% of their monthly income.

Persons: Ramit Sethi, Rich, Kevin, Michelle, Sethi

☆ Why a debt-fueled US economy is facing a hard landing in 2025, chief economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

According to the Apollo chief economist, that's because current strength stems from high debt loads, both among US consumers and the corporate world. Slok pointed out that delinquencies are rising on credit cards and auto loans, despite an economy with low unemployment. But while that keeps a hard landing on the table, the next few quarters will still deliver solid performance, he said. Advertisement"We still have behind us a very strong tailwind. We still have strong spending in the pipeline from the Chips Act, Inflation Reduction Act, the Infrastructure Act."

Persons: —, Torsten Slok, Slok Organizations: Service, Apollo, Business, Bloomberg, Fitch, Reserve Locations: headwinds

☆ Gen Z is getting hit hard by inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

For Gen Z, it was the Covid-19 pandemic. Why are we seeing that Gen Z is tapping into their credit more than their Millennial counterparts 10 years ago? Most Gen Z consumers are not homeowners. And so I think that’s been a big cause of what’s been driving a lot of that financial strain that Gen Z consumers have seen. The key is to not use the personal loans to pay off credit card debt and then run your credit card bills right back up after you do that.

Persons: TransUnion, Zers, Millennials, Gen Zers, Bell, Charlie Wise, we’ve, haven’t, You’re, Rishi Sunak, Hanna Ziady, Anna Cooban, Philip Jefferson, Loretta Mester, Jack, Neel Kashkari Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Gross, Office, National Statistics, Bank of England, P, Federal, Cleveland Fed, Depot, US Labor Department, Cisco Systems, US Commerce Department, National Association of Home Builders, Index, Minneapolis, Walmart, Applied, Co, Baidu, Board Locations: New York, Kingdom, Wells Fargo

☆ Could your buy now, pay later loans affect your credit score? Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But there's one place they're notable absent: your credit report. Earlier this year, Apple became the first major BNPL provider to start reporting all user account information to a credit reporting agency. Providers including AfterPay, Affirm and Klarna already report some loans to the credit bureaus and experts say more are likely to follow, paving the way for a consumer's BNPL history to factor into their credit history and ultimately their credit score. (One of the main aspects of a credit score comes down to your history of paying bills on time.) When BNPL credit reporting could sting

Persons: Klarna, Liz Pagel, BNPL, Wells, Tim Quinlan, Ethan Dornhelm, TransUnion's, Silvio Tavares, Tavares, Pagel Organizations: Apple, Adobe Analytics, CNBC, Finance Locations: TransUnion, Wells Fargo

That's because, taken together, the two primary Social Security funds are set to only be able to pay out full benefits through 2035; the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, one of the main funds comprising Social Security, will start getting depleted in 2033. AdvertisementIn other words, the moment that today's older Gen Xers are ready to retire, their Social Security benefits could start to shrink. Gen Xers — born from 1965 to 1980 — have been deemed the country's "neglected middle child" by the Pew Research Center. And among the different generations, Gen Xers were the most likely to report that they were feeling financially insecure. That could set the stage for the new crop of Gen X retirees to arrive in an already-precarious retirement economy.

Persons: —, Gen X, Xers, Gen Xers —, YouGov —, Gen Xers, X, Gen Zers, Gen, Michele Raneri, aren't, Xer Organizations: Service, Gen, Social Security, Insurance Trust Fund, Business, Security, Pew Research Center, of Congress, Millennials, TransUnion, Survey, Alliance, Lifetime, Income

☆ Americans have spent their savings. Economists worry about what comes next
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But now that extra spending money is gone, economists are concerned about what comes next. That means many Americans have more debt than savings and suggests “that American households fully spent their pandemic-era savings as of March 2024,” they wrote in a recent report. Consumer spending plays a crucial role in driving economic growth in the United States, and it has shown remarkable strength over the past two years. “A continuing strong labor market could help consumers maintain spending patterns similar to those observed recently, even without pandemic-era savings,” they wrote. What comes next: Disney, Airbnb, Uber, Anheuser-Busch, Tapestry and Dillards all report later this week — investors will look for any comments about how consumer spending, or lack thereof, is altering revenue forecasts for 2024.

Persons: Hamza Abdelrahman, Luiz Edgard Oliveira, ”, Austan Goolsbee, ’ ”, Fitch, Sarah Wyeth, Chris Kempczinski, Abdelrahman, Airbnb, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Greg Abel, Buffett, “, Abel, isn’t, Boeing “, Scott Stocker, Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, San Francisco Federal Reserve, Chicago Federal, Society for, ”, Shoppers, Tyson Foods, “, Disney, Anheuser, Busch, Berkshire, International Monetary Fund, Industries, Nvidia, Microsoft, FAA, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, CNN Locations: New York, United States, Omaha , Nebraska, Omaha, scamming

An income-driven repayment plan may be a good choice if you can't handle your monthly payments. The SAVE Plan is a simplified income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, which aims to provide more affordable student loan payments for borrowers with low to middle incomes. The SAVE Plan replaces the previous variations of IDR plans (Income-Contingent, Income-Based, Revised Pay As You Earn). The SAVE Plan calculates your payment based on a smaller percentage of your discretionary income compared to older IDR plans. Read more Read less Ryan Wangman, CEPF Loans Reporter Ryan Wangman was a reporter at Personal Finance Insider reporting on personal loans, student loans, student loan refinancing, debt consolidation, auto loans, RV loans, and boat loans.

Persons: Alexis Rhiannon Alexis Rhiannon, Read, Ryan Wangman Organizations: SAVE, Federal Stafford Loans, Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, FFEL PLUS, Federal Perkins Loans, Student, Upright Citizens Brigade, Finance, Northwestern University, Boston Globe Locations: forbearance, Unsubsidized, Chevron, Los Angeles

A Master Promissory Note, or MPN, is a legal document that outlines the terms and conditions of your federal student loans. Promissory notes are used for all types of loans, like auto loans, mortgages, and personal loans, though an MPN is a special type of promissory note used exclusively for federal student loans. Why the MPN mattersIt's important for student loan borrowers to sign and understand an MPN for the following reasons:It's Not Optional: Required to receive federal student loans. In general, you'll default on most federal student loans if you have not made a payment in more than 270 days. Ryan Wangman, CEPF Loans Reporter Ryan Wangman was a reporter at Personal Finance Insider reporting on personal loans, student loans, student loan refinancing, debt consolidation, auto loans, RV loans, and boat loans.

Persons: Mark Kantrowitz, You'll, Stacey MacPhetres, Andrew Pentis, Ryan Wangman, Read Organizations: Parent PLUS, Department of Education, Bright, Borrower's, Loan, Federal, Aid, Finance, Northwestern University, Boston Globe Locations: Chevron

☆ Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser says low-income consumers have turned far more cautious with spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said Monday that consumer behavior has diverged as inflation for goods and services makes life harder for many Americans. Fraser, who leads one of the largest U.S. credit card issuers, said she is seeing a "K-shaped consumer." "We're seeing a much more cautious low-income consumer," Fraser said. That means Americans must live with higher rates for credit card debt, auto loans and mortgages for longer. "It's hard to get a soft landing," the CEO added, using a term for when higher rates reduce inflation without triggering an economic recession.

Persons: Jane Fraser, Fraser, CNBC's Sara Eisen Organizations: Citigroup, Federal Reserve

☆ The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, offers no relief from high borrowing costs — what that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"If Americans want lower interest rates, they're going to have to do it themselves," he said. "Going forward, mortgage rates will likely continue to fluctuate and it's impossible to say for certain where they'll end up," noted Jacob Channel, senior economist at LendingTree. Auto loansEven though auto loans are fixed, payments are getting bigger because car prices have been rising along with the interest rates on new loans, resulting in less affordable monthly payments. Student loansFederal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers aren't immediately affected. Interest rates for the upcoming school year will be based on an auction of 10-Year Treasury notes later this month.

Persons: Brett House, aren't, Matt Schulz, Schulz, Jacob Channel, there's, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Drury Organizations: Columbia Business School, Treasury, Fed Locations: Edmunds

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