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Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Annual fees increase between 18% to 52% on six consumer and business Delta SkyMiles credit cards. American Express and Delta Air Lines increased annual fees across their co-branded airline credit cards today for consumer and business credit cards alike. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders will receive $2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) every qualifying year, beginning February 1, which will give them a jumpstart toward earning Delta status each year. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders can now spend above their credit limit, albeit within a certain undisclosed extent.

Persons: Resy, Katherine Fan, I've, Guy, NerdWallet, I'm, you'll, Read Organizations: Delta, American Express, Delta Air Lines, Delta SkyMiles, Delta SkyMiles ®, Express, Finance, Business, Forbes, USA, Austin American, Statesman, Associated Press, Google, MSN, University of Texas Locations: Hawaii , Alaska, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, delta.com, Delta, Austin, Southwest, Texas, Taiwan, New York City

☆ Should you pay rent with a credit card? 'It could rapidly spiral,' expert warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Housing is typically one of the biggest expenses in someone's budget, and it's natural to wonder about the best way to pay that bill. For renters, sometimes it's possible to pay with a credit card. While you could earn rewards and build credit by doing so, experts say it's typically not a smart move. They simply "may not want the hassle," said Matt Schulz, senior credit analyst at LendingTree. Here are three things to consider before you charge your rent payment to a credit card.

Persons: Susan M, Matt Schulz Organizations: Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Finance, LendingTree

☆ Gen Z, millennials are less worried about fraud than older generations. But they have a unique risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Younger adults are less worried about financial fraud than are older generations, a recent study found. Only 15% of Gen Z and 20% of millennials are concerned about falling victim to stolen money or assets through deceptive tactics, according to a Bank of America Better Money Habits survey of 1,000 respondents. By comparison, about 27% of Gen X and 27% of baby boomers feel at risk of fraud. But that doesn't mean younger generations can't experience severe consequences, said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. Financial fraud is a really big deal and can be really impactful," Schulz said.

Persons: X, Jennifer Ehresman, millennials, Ehresman, Matt Schulz, Schulz Organizations: Bank of America, Finance, Gen

☆ Paying rent usually won't boost your credit score. Here's what renters need to know to make it count
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty ImagesWhile rent payments do not traditionally affect your credit, a growing number of so-called rent-reporting services are trying to change that. But these services don't all operate the same way, and some may have less value for renters. There are also services geared to landlords that offer rent reporting for tenants, including ClearNow, Esusu and PayYourRent. Landlords usually shoulder the cost of these programs, but there may be processing fees depending on how you make your rent payments. When rent payments are included in credit reports, consumers see an average increase of nearly 60 points to their credit score, according to a 2021 TransUnion report.

Persons: Luis Alvarez, —, Matt Schulz, Michael Sherman, Schulz Organizations: Digitalvision, Finance, Zillow, Zillow Group

☆ Here are 3 ways Gen Zers can build credit before renting their own place
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Fg Trade | E+ | Getty ImagesRising inventory is helping push rent prices down. Many Gen Zers are still living with their parentsWhile some older Gen Zers were able to become homeowners during the Covid-19 pandemic, most did not. Gen Z includes those born between 1996 and 2012, according to Pew Research Center's definition, and the youngest members of that cohort are still teens and tweens. Of the Gen Z adults who currently rent, 27% say they can no longer afford the cost, the firm found. In the meantime, there are ways Gen Z adults can prepare, especially those at home saving on expenses.

Persons: Gen, Daryl Fairweather, Jacob Channel, It's, Zers, Intuit Credit Karma, Melissa Lambarena Organizations: Pew Research, Intuit Credit, Finance Locations: U.S

☆ The value of the housing market in America's largest metros has surged to $23 trillion
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The value of the housing market across the nation's 50 largest metro areas has hit $23.48 trillion, LendingTree said. New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are the metro areas with the most valuable housing markets. AdvertisementThe US housing market has soared in value over the last few years. A new LendingTree report found that the total value of owner-occupied housing units across the biggest 50 metro areas in the US has reached $23.48 trillion. In 2020 and 2021, many Americans secured mortgage rates of about 3% for a 30-year fixed rate loan.

Persons: LendingTree, — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco

☆ From interest rates to home demand, here's how the housing market will unfold in 2024, according to LendingTree
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Here's what the real estate firm expects for the housing market over the next 12 months. AdvertisementSoftening lock-in effectIn the last two years, homeowners have been unwilling to sell their homes because of the lower mortgage rates they secured previously. AdvertisementNo housing market crashLow rates could spark some additional homebuying, but demand will ultimately stay muted and the market will "continue to move sluggishly," according to LendingTree. A separate November survey from LendingTree found that 41% of Americans at the time expected the housing market to crash in 2024. At the same time, LendingTree maintains that the housing market will stay "prohibitively expensive" for Americans, regardless of how rates move.

Persons: —, Jacob Channel, LendingTree Organizations: Service, Business, Federal

☆ Carrying a credit card balance is costing you $1,140 per year — and is about to get much worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

However, credit card balances are especially worrisome because they are going to keep getting worse. That means the average American could be spending $1,140 every year on credit card interest and fees alone. Americans have been accruing a lot of credit card debt at a terrible timeAccording to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Americans had nearly $1.1 trillion in credit card debt in the third quarter of this year. Credit card interest rates, which had already been at their highest level since the mid-1990s, started soaring even higher. But with credit card debt going through the roof, the blissful spending could come to a screeching halt.

Persons: couldn't, —, Gary Coronado, LendingTree, Ted Rossman, Biden Organizations: Service, SoFi Bank, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Federal Reserve Board, Fed, New York, New York Fed, Consumer Financial, CNN, Household Economics Locations: WalletHub, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, delinquencies

☆ Gen Z women spend more on TikTok as app 'drives consumption,' analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Filippobacci | E+ | Getty ImagesGen Z women are driving spending trends on TikTok. "TikTok is a Gen Z women-centric app and it is setting the tone and the narrative for what is 'hot' online," said Ellyn Briggs, a brands analyst at Morning Consult. A larger share of Gen Z women, 75%, use TikTok compared to their male counterparts, 62%, a separate Morning Consult report found. Sophia Bera Daigle certified financial plannerSocial media platforms like TikTok take the concept to a different level, especially for Gen Z. Two money guardrails for 20-something womenExperts say it's important for young women in their 20s to remember the following two things when it comes to observing their contemporaries exhibiting expensive lifestyles: 1.

Persons: Ellyn Briggs, Briggs, TikTok, Z's, Shaun Williams, boomers, Williams, Sophia Bera Daigle, FOMO, Gen Zers, LendingTree, Daigle, guardrails, it's, They're Organizations: Morning, Paragon Capital Management, CNBC, Gen, CNBC FA Locations: Denver, Austin , Texas

☆ With tipping, wages are 'shifted onto the customer'—here's why we do that in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

While many industries have adopted the practice, tipping is most entrenched in the restaurant industry, where workers rely on gratuities to make up much of their wages. Here's how tipping came to America in the first place, and how it became institutionalized in food services, specifically. But the company that "really institutionalized" tipping, Zagor says, was the Pullman Company, which built and operated railroad cars. But when restaurants were added in 1966, they weren't covered under the typical minimum wage as other industries ultimately were. 'The whole thing is shifted onto the customer'These days, tipping is deeply embedded in the restaurant industry.

Persons: Kerry Segrave's, Stephen Zagor, Zagor, Franklin D, Roosevelt, what's, Harry Holzer, Jena Ellenwood Organizations: Columbia Business School, Employers, Pullman Company, Pullman, Library of Congress, Workers, Companies, Labor, Georgetown University, Brookings Locations: America, Europe, U.S

☆ 'You can't trust your instincts,' says financial psychologist—here's how to avoid emotional spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Annie Probert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

When it comes to emotional spending, "the deck is stacked against us," says financial psychologist and certified financial planner Brad Klontz. Roughly 75% of both millennials and Gen Z admit to emotional spending, possibly because they're less likely to think about their retirement funds when clicking "buy." "But as you're pulling the trigger, you're pretty excited about this thing you're buying." While emotional spending is a common habit, it's not one you want to turn into a bigger problem. Nearly 40% of emotional spenders say they've gone into debt because of it, and Klontz warns of the stress that emotional spending can put on your finances and relationships.

Persons: Brad Klontz, Gen Z, they're, That's, Klontz, spender Organizations: CNBC

☆ People are leaving Texas over rising costs, partisan politics, and a sense of disenchantment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Business Insider wants to hear from you. Over 494,000 people left Texas between 2021 and 2022 (though the state gained a net population of 174,261.) "The property tax percentage rate is higher," Marie Bailey, a Texas-based realtor who moved from El Segundo, California, to Prosper, Texas, in 2017, previously told Business Insider. AdvertisementFor Texans, "the Midwest has emerged as popular recently because it is just by and large the most affordable region," Hannah Jones, Realtor.com's economic research analyst, told Business Insider in October. Burse told Business Insider in September that it played a crucial role in her decision to relocate to Texas in 2021.

Persons: —, I'm, I've, we've, Marie Bailey, Hannah Jones, they've, Jackie Burse, Burse, Bob McCranie, McCranie, Texas hasn't, Nick Thomas, he's, Thomas, Jules Rogers, hadn't, Rogers Organizations: Texas, Business, Service, Lone Star, Lone, Lone Star State, KXAN News, Austin Locations: Texas, Knoxville, Realtor.com, El Segundo , California, Prosper , Texas, Marie Bailey As Texas, California, Dallas, New York, Florida, Florida and Texas, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland , Oregon, Houston, Pacific, Portland

☆ Turkeys are cheaper, but inflation is 'clearly impacting' Thanksgiving food costs, economist says. Here's how to save
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The cost of turkey represents 45% of the classic Thanksgiving basket of food prices the bureau tracks. "Inflation is still clearly impacting food prices," Veronica Nigh, senior economist of AFBF, said in a press call. People are paying more at the grocery store. Consumers can expect to pay around 20% less for fresh cranberries compared to a year ago while canned cranberry sauce is up 7% from last year, Wells Fargo found. It "might actually be cheaper to go to a grocery store that you're not used to going to," Palmer said.

Persons: Veronica, AFBF, Kimberly Palmer, There's, Wells, Mark Hamrick, Maren Caruso, Palmer Organizations: American Farm Bureau, Finance, UBS, Bankrate, Stone Locations: U.S, Puerto Rico, . Ham, Wells Fargo

☆ Almost 90% of Americans think families should have multiple children, but it's increasingly expensive to raise a child
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Still, most Americans think the ideal family consists of more than one child, a Gallup study showed. AdvertisementAdvertisementMost Americans think the "ideal" family consists of more than one child, according to a recent study. The breakdown of what people say is the ideal number of children showed: 44% say two children, 29% say three, 12% say four, 2% say five, and 2% say six or more children. "Families are projected to spend $237,482 over 18 years to raise a child," the LendingTree study said. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Gallup study acknowledged that Americans' ideal family size doesn't match up with their actual family size.

Persons: —, Gallup Organizations: Gallup, Service

☆ 'The damage has already been done': A 31-year market vet shares 3 pieces of evidence that the labor market is about to collapse, sending the economy into recession and the stock market spiraling
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US economy added just 150,000 jobs, under the expected 180,000, and the unemployment rate rose to 3.9%, now 0.5% higher than its low earlier this year. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis/Bullandbearprofits.comSecond, the inverted yield curve is starting to steepen. An inverted yield curve has been an extremely reliable recession indicator over the last several decades. Bullandbearprofits.com"Proven leading indicators show that the unemployment rate is likely to start rising materially soon. Piper SandlerIn addition to the yield curve and employment indicators above, other recession indicators continue to point to a downturn ahead.

Persons: Jon Wolfenbarger, Merril Lynch, Wolfenbarger, Louis, bode, Piper Sandler's Michael Kantrowitz, Piper Sandler, Societe Generale's Albert Edwards, Edwards Organizations: JPMorgan, Federal Reserve Bank of St, National Federation of Independent, Fed, Bank of America, Societe Generale's, Generale, Edwards . Societe Generale Locations: lockstep, Edwards .

☆ As more consumers struggle with credit card debt, here's what to know heading into the holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Sharon Epperson | In Sharoneppersoncnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

That climbing "credit card delinquencies" rate may trend higher this holiday season. Knowing what the words credit card delinquencies mean is important because being delinquent or late with card payments can lower your credit score. Annual percentage rate (APR)If you're paying for holiday purchases with a credit card, you should know the annual percentage rate, or APR, on it before you buy. The average APR on a credit card is more than 21%, according to Bankrate, and nearly 30% for retail store credit cards. A LendingTree survey of 100 cards found some retail cards can have interest rates as high as 35%.

Persons: Matt Schulz, LendingTree Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of New

☆ We are going to see delinquencies continue to rise, says LendingTree's Matt Schulz
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe are going to see delinquencies continue to rise, says LendingTree's Matt SchulzMatt Schulz, LendingTree chief credit analyst, and CNBC's Steve Liesman join 'The Exchange' to discuss the jump in delinquency rates from the second quarter, the health of the consumer, and more.

Persons: LendingTree's Matt Schulz Matt Schulz, LendingTree, Steve Liesman

☆ The Federal Reserve leaves rates unchanged. Here's what that means for your wallet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

watch nowThe Federal Reserve left its target federal funds rate unchanged for the second consecutive time Wednesday. What the federal funds rate means for youThe federal funds rate, which is set by the central bank, is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. To a certain extent, many households have been shielded from the brunt of the Fed's rate hikes so far, House said. As the federal funds rate rose, the prime rate did as well, and credit card rates followed suit. If the 10-year yield stays near 5%, federal student loan interest rates could increase again when they reset in the spring, costing student borrowers even more in interest.

Persons: Brett House, that's, Sung Won Sohn, Sohn, bode, Greg McBride, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's, Tiffany Hagler, Bankrate, Jacob Channel Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, Columbia Business School, Loyola Marymount University, SS Economics, Treasury, Geard, Bloomberg, Getty, Auto Locations: Larchmont , New York

☆ Federal Reserve Meeting Fed Expected to Keep Rates on Hold
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The Fed last raised its benchmark rate, the federal funds rate, in July to a range of 5.25 to 5.5 percent. In recent weeks, the long-term market rates that influence many types of consumer and business loans have drifted higher, even as the Fed left its key rate on hold. Car LoansHigher loan rates have been dampening auto sales, particularly in the used-car market, because loans are more expensive and prices remain high, experts said. Used-car rates were even higher: The average loan carried an 11.4 percent rate in September, matching a high set earlier in the year. Home-equity lines of credit and adjustable-rate mortgages — which each carry variable interest rates — generally rise within two billing cycles after a change in the Fed’s rates.

Persons: ”, Anna N’Jie, Bankrate.com, Matt Schulz, Jonathan Smoke, that’s, Freddie Mac, Ken Tumin, DepositAccounts.com Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, Re, LendingTree, Cox Automotive, Treasury, Savings Vehicles Savers, Consumers, DepositAccounts.com Locations: LendingTree

☆ The Fed decision on interest rates won't offer much relief to Main Street businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Mallika Mitra | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The average monthly credit card expenditure of U.S. small businesses is up by an average of 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a recent report by Intuit QuickBooks. Around 1,660 small businesses have filed for bankruptcy in 2023 so far, which is higher than in all of 2022, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute. Access to capital for small businesses is at an economic cycle low. Getting a business credit card is much easier than getting a loan from a bank, Akcigit said. Power, who leads research on small business credit cards at the firm.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Ufuk, Intuit QuickBooks, Goldman Sachs, Akcigit, John Cabell, Cabell Organizations: Fed, Federal Reserve, Bureau of Labor Statistics JOLTS, Intuit QuickBooks, University of Chicago, Intuit, American Bankruptcy Institute, Goldman Locations: ., U.S

☆ How to jump jobs within your company, according to a career trends expert: It's a 'really smart' move for many
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Annie Probert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Workers seeking a new job cited salary as the leading reason for wanting to leave their current gig. "Limiting opportunities exist within several employers right now," Scott Dobroski, a career trends expert at Indeed, tells CNBC Make It. Whether it's due to uncertain economic times or because workers love career growth opportunities, Dobroski says he isn't surprised by this statistic. And it also shows that they believe there could be career opportunities within the company, either in or outside of their own team." While there's no "one-size-fits-all" approach, here are three tips from Dobroski on the right way to switch jobs within your employer.

Persons: Scott Dobroski, LendingTree, Dobroski Organizations: Workers, CNBC

☆ The Federal Reserve may not hike interest rates next week, but consumers are unlikely to feel any relief
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

After the previous rate hikes, the average credit card rate is now more than 20% — an all-time high. Even without a rate hike, APRs may continue to rise, according to according to Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. As the federal funds rate rose, the prime rate did, as well, and these rates followed suit. Federal student loans are now at 5.5%Federal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers aren't immediately affected by the Fed's moves. But undergraduate students who take out new direct federal student loans are now paying 5.50% — up from 4.99% in the 2022-23 academic year and 3.73% in 2021-22.

Persons: Chris Wattie, Matt Schulz, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's Organizations: Reuters, Treasury, Auto

☆ Shoppers have choices when it comes to payment plans. Here's how to pick between buy now, pay later and retail credit cards
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Using financing deals from retail credit cards also allows you to take an item home immediately after purchase, but they operate differently than BNPL plans and serve different purposes. Buy now, pay later deals can buy you 'a little extra time'"If you need a little extra time to pay something off, then a 'buy now, pay later' loan can be a really appealing thing," said Schulz. In addition, retail credit card accounts — especially newly opened ones — often include "deferred" or zero interest promotions. How BNPL, retail cards can affect your creditHoliday debt can be very sticky for cardholders. Actually, sign-ups for retail credit cards consistently spike every year in the fourth quarter, specifically November and December, according to credit bureau company Equifax.

Persons: Matt Schulz, Schulz, That's, Sara Rathner, Rathner, NerdWallet Organizations: Finance, LendingTree, Retail

☆ The 10 U.S. states where Americans leave the best—and worst—tips
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Annie Probert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

But a new survey by USA Today Blueprint and OnePoll finds that some states are more generous than others when it comes to leaving a gratuity. The survey asked 5,000 Americans — 100 people per state — about their tipping behavior in situations like restaurants, food delivery, personal care and services rendered. California residents tended to leave the largest gratuity, with an average tip percentage of 22.69%. Overall, average tip percentage in the U.S. comes out to 17.94%. Here are the 10 most generous states when it comes to tipping, according to USA Today Blueprint and OnePoll.

Persons: LendingTree Organizations: USA Locations: California, Missouri, U.S

☆ Credit card users paid $130 billion in fees, interest in 2022, federal watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Proposed changes are meant to fill gaps in the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, or CARD Act. The law imposed guardrails on credit card companies such as price controls on penalty fees and specific conditions in which they can be charged. However, there is no restriction on how much APR a company can charge nor language on late fees. How to minimize credit card fees, interestCardholders who carried a balance paid about 20% of their average statement balance in interest and fees last year, the CFPB found. WalletHub estimates that cardholders paid on average $76.27 in fees and interest per credit card account in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Persons: Biden, Schulz, it's, " Schulz, cardholders, Autopay, Matt Schulz, Sara Rathner Organizations: Consumers, Federal Trade Commission, Istock, Getty

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