Credit card debt stands at about $900 billion
At the end of 2018, Americans owed credit card companies roughly $900 billion. However, the Consumer Financial Protection Board says that Mississippi residents and others throughout the country aren’t necessarily in a perilous financial situation. Currently, most of the credit card debt is being generated by people who have credit scores of at least 740. This means that they are more likely to pay their debts in full and on time.
Furthermore, interest rates for other debts such as mortgages and credit cards are lower by historical standards. This makes it easier for debtors to handle their overall debt loads. Finally, unemployment is reportedly at its lowest level in 50 years, and employers are expected to spend more money on worker salaries in 2020. Consumer confidence is also relatively high despite the fact that the United States and China have been engaged in a long-term trade battle.
However, there are some reasons to believe that increasing credit card debt could eventually become a problem. For example, those with lower credit scores are accumulating debt at a relatively high rate, and this has led to an increase in both late payments and charge-offs over the past two years. The CFPB also says that debtors have been increasingly seeking out debt settlements and other forms of relief in recent years.
Those who are seeking a fresh financial start may be able to obtain it by filing for bankruptcy. Doing so might make it possible to eliminate credit card and other debt balances. An attorney may be able to help a person learn more about the process of filing. In many cases, individuals who file are entitled to an automatic stay of creditor contact. This may prevent creditors from going through with a foreclosure or repossession until a case has been resolved.