I assume most don't have cash laying around. They have likely been putting things on credit hoping that things would turn around. And now they are living paycheck to paycheck and what's left in their sofa cushions.
In the aftermath of hot inflation and high interest rates, many Americans have been stretched so financially thin that theyve borrowed up to the limit on a credit card, new data from Bankrate reveals.
Almost 2 in 5 cardholders (37 percent) have maxed out a credit card or come close since the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in March 2022, according to Bankrates new Credit Utilization Survey. That includes 20 percent who have maxed out a card and another 17 percent who came close.
A maxed-out card can create a cascading set of problems for consumers. Their available credit dries up, limiting their options if they need to cover a necessary expense in a pinch, such as unexpected medical or household expenses.
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https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/credit-utilization-survey/