Rise in credit card debt forecasts "overall economic meltdown"
"We are in a recession with stagflation, wages went up, but when corporate profits start to fall we are going to see job cuts." This will lead to the "overall economy crashing.”
High inflation is increasingly affecting the finances of middle-class households, and many people are turning to credit cards to compensate for rising prices relative to their salary or earnings. A Primerica survey revealed that 75% of middle-income Americans said their incomes are falling below their cost of living.
In addition, 37% of respondents reported to have acquired more debt on their credit cards, the highest rate since the leading provider of financial services in the U.S. and Canada began tracking the data. According to its Chief Executive Officer, Glenn J. Williams:
Increased use of credit cards
A VantageScore analysis noted that credit card balances in October averaged about $5,600. This reflects a progressive increase of 0.8% month over month.
Poor economic conditions, coupled with the Federal Reserve raising interest rates several times this year, mean more debt for citizens. The average interest rate on credit cards is 19.49%. In the words of Captjur's CEO, Bob Bilbruck:
Cutting costs
The use of credit cards is one of the many ways consumers weigh rising costs. The survey points to the following other ways Americans are changing their spending habits to make ends meet in times of inflation:
- 75% cuts out non-essentials.
- 47% cut back or paused saving.
- 43% delayed regular maintenance of their car or home.
- 34% pulled from their savings.
Another strategy consumers use to make ends meet was to take on an additional job. Thirty-eight percent of respondents, including retirees, said they planned to do additional work.