Steve Leeman is here at Post9 with the numbers. And Steve, this question about how inflation is impacting holiday spending. >> We're calling it inflation the red-nosed reindeer.How it's really leading spending. Uh it's factoring heavily into consumers views on spending this holiday season. The All-American Economic Survey finding it's affecting where people choose to shop and of course how much.Of the thousands people surveyed across the nation, uh here are some of the results you can see there. 61% say the ...

Our senior economics reporter Steve Leeman is here at Post9 with the numbers. And Steve, this question about how inflation is impacting holiday spending. >> We're calling it inflation the red-nosed reindeer.How it's really leading spending. Uh it's factoring heavily into consumers views on spending this holiday season. The All-American Economic Survey finding it's affecting where people choose to shop and of course how much.Of the thousands people surveyed across the nation, uh here are some of the results ...

With inflation still squeezing household budgets and interest rates staying high for most of the year, national consumer debt continues to climb across borrowing categories — from mortgages and credit cards to auto loans and HELOCs — compared to last year. Read More: 3 Signs You’ve ‘Made It’ Financially, According to Financial Influencer Genesis Hinckley Find Out: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too In June 2025, Americans collectively owed $18.33 trillion in ...

Core Insights - The average total debt balance among U.S. consumers remained largely unchanged in 2025, with an average balance of $104,755, slightly down from $105,580 in June 2024 [1][2] - There has been an increase in average balances for common types of consumer debt, including auto loans, credit cards, and mortgages, indicating persistent debt levels among consumers [1][2] Debt Breakdown - Auto loans in 2025 averaged $24,596, up from $24,187 in 2024 [6] - Credit card debt in 2025 averaged $6,735, slightly up from $6,699 in 2024 [6] - Mortgage debt in 2025 averaged $258,214, an increase from $250,479 in 2024 [6] Financial Management Recommendations - Financial experts suggest creating a monthly budget and controlling non-essential spending as fundamental steps to manage debt [4] - Listing all balances and interest rates in one place can help consumers understand their financial situation better [4] - Using credit wisely and aiming to pay off credit card balances monthly is recommended to maintain financial health [4][5] - For those with significant debt, consolidating at lower rates or using home equity for consolidation may improve cash flow and reduce overall debt [5]

Core Insights - Equifax's Market Pulse report indicates a moderate increase in U.S. consumer debt, reaching $18.03 trillion in September 2025, up from $17.91 trillion in August 2025, with a delinquency rate of 1.562% [1][6]. Consumer Debt Trends - Total consumer debt increased by 0.7% month-over-month and 2.7% year-over-year in September 2025 [6]. - Mortgage debt rose to $13.33 trillion in September 2025, reflecting a 0.7% increase from August 2025 and a 3.7% increase year-over-year [7]. - Non-mortgage debt, which includes auto loans, bankcards, and student loans, reached $4.70 trillion, showing a 0.4% month-over-month increase and a slight 0.2% year-over-year increase [7]. Auto Loans and Leases - Auto loan and lease debt totaled $1.68 trillion in September 2025, up 1.4% from September 2024, with lease balances growing by 11.5% to $95.8 billion [5]. - Delinquency rates for auto loans increased to 1.64%, while lease delinquencies slightly decreased to 0.46% [5]. - Rising costs of car ownership are leading consumers to prefer leasing over purchasing vehicles [5][2]. Bankcard and Private Label Credit Cards - Bankcard balances reached $1.08 trillion, a 4.0% increase from September 2024, with accounts rising to 586.2 million [5]. - The delinquency rate for bankcards increased slightly to 2.83% but decreased from 3.01% year-over-year [5]. - Private label credit card balances and accounts saw significant declines, with balances down 11.7% and accounts down 25.5% year-over-year [5]. Student Loans - Student loan delinquencies have stabilized around 18%, with severe delinquency rates at 16.32% in September 2025, up from 0.79% a year ago [5]. - Outstanding student loan debt rose to $1.34 trillion, a 4.8% decrease compared to September 2024, with accounts down 8.6% [5].

Group 1 - The total U.S. household debt reached $18.39 trillion in Q2, with housing debt increasing by $131 billion from Q1 and non-housing debt growing by over $51 billion [1] - A significant portion of Americans, approximately 71%, report that their monthly debt payments hinder their ability to save, while 17% feel their debt prevents future planning, and 18% find their debt overwhelming [3] - Reducing debt is a top financial priority for many Americans, with nearly one-third listing it as their top New Year's resolution, second only to saving more money, which 45% identified as their primary goal [4] Group 2 - Experts suggest that many Americans are not utilizing available strategies to reduce debt, despite the desire to do so [5] - Recommended debt-reducing tools include creating a budget, negotiating lower interest rates, and consolidating balances [6] - Working with nonprofit credit counselors can provide personalized assistance in managing budgets and developing repayment plans [7]

Market Overview - The equity market is currently disregarding the government shutdown, potentially viewing it as a positive factor, while also signaling a slowdown in the economy [1][13] - Major indexes closed at record highs for the week ending October 24th, with significant gains observed in October [1][13] Economic Indicators - The Federal Reserve's Beige Book indicates only 18% of the economy is growing, a decline from 43% in August and 100% at the end of the previous year [5][13] - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.3% in September, slightly above the consensus estimate, bringing the year-over-year increase to 3.0% [6][15] - Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, increased by 0.2%, also resulting in a 3.0% rise over the past year [6][15] Housing Market - Existing home sales increased by 4.1% in September compared to the previous year, but the annual rate remains significantly below pre-COVID levels [11][12] - The current level of existing home sales is nearly 40% lower than the cycle peak, approaching the worst levels seen during the Great Recession [12][14] - Median home prices have stagnated since Spring 2024, with expectations of home price deflation in the coming quarters due to rising inventory [12][14] Consumer Behavior - Consumer spending rose by 2.7% from April to August, despite a 1.2% decline in personal income during the same period, indicating reliance on savings drawdown [9][16] - Rising delinquencies in credit card and auto loans are early indicators of consumer distress, with mortgage delinquencies now exceeding levels seen during the COVID era [10][16] Future Outlook - The Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates, with a potential 25-basis point reduction anticipated at the upcoming meeting [8] - The economic outlook remains cautious, with expectations of continued weakness in economic data influencing future monetary policy [8][16]

Core Insights - A viral TikTok video highlighted consumer frustration with aggressive sales tactics for store credit cards, particularly at T.J. Maxx, where employees pressured customers despite refusals [1][2][4]. Group 1: Consumer Experience - The TikTok user expressed her annoyance at being pressured to sign up for a store credit card, even after declining the offer, with a supervisor suggesting an $18 discount as an incentive [1][2]. - The video resonated with many viewers, indicating a widespread issue of similar experiences across various retail stores [2]. Group 2: Retail Strategy - Retailers heavily promote store-branded credit cards as they contribute significantly to profits, accounting for approximately 8% of total gross profits for major retailers from 2018 to 2023 [5]. - Store credit cards are designed to enhance customer loyalty, encouraging repeat visits and increased spending, which can lead to higher consumer debt levels [6]. Group 3: Consumer Debt - As of August 2025, U.S. credit card debt reached $1.2 trillion, highlighting the financial implications of aggressive credit card marketing strategies [7].

Consumer Concerns - The top concern for US consumers over the past year has been tariffs, with 25 million discussions recorded on the topic, and nearly 40% of mentions being negative, resulting in a 16 to 1 negative to positive ratio [3][4] - Spanish-speaking consumers have specific concerns regarding tariffs, particularly related to soy, beef, and sugar, which account for 15% of their discussions [7] Buying Patterns - Consumers are postponing purchases of appliances and furniture, indicating a shift in buying patterns due to economic pressures [6] - The holiday shopping season is approaching, and there is a mixed outlook; while some consumers may pull back on spending, there is also an increase in discussions about purchasing vehicles, which rose by 12% in the last month [11][12] Inflation and Medical Costs - Inflation is a secondary concern for US consumers, with medical care costs being the top issue related to inflation, closely tied to the tariff discussions [10] Labor Market and AI Concerns - Discussions around AI and its impact on employment are significant among younger adults, with over 12% of discussions from Gen Z and millennials expressing concerns that AI is harming their career prospects [15] - The unemployment rate has been a trending concern, although it has been decreasing since the beginning of the year [15]

The feds are lowering the leverage ratio at small banks so they extend more loans to juice consumer spending.With record-high consumer debt and delinquencies on the rise, it's fantastic that we're relaxing lending conditions even more.Lever it up. What could go wrong?FinancialJuice (@financialjuice):US regulators are poised to offer capital relief to community banks. ...