Key points from the article:
1. Delinquencies on the Rise: VantageScore's Credit Gauge report indicates that delinquencies are increasing across all tiers of credit and for various credit products, including mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, and auto loans.
2. Two-Tiered Consumer Landscape: There is a growing disparity between consumers with prime credit scores (VantageScore Superprime) who continue to spend and borrow, and those with subprime credit scores (VantageScore Subprime) who are struggling to stay current on credit payments.
3. Delinquency Rates: Early-stage delinquencies rose from 0.98% in January to 1.04% in February, surpassing 1.0% for the first time in four years.
4. Loan Originations: New loan account originations declined across most categories in February, except for auto loans, which saw a slight increase due to high inventory levels and promotions.
5. Personal Saving Rate Decline: The personal saving rate decreased to 3.6% in February, down from 4.1% in January and recent peaks of around 5% in the past year. This suggests that consumers are drawing down their savings to cover expenses.
6. Consumer Debt and Savings: Many consumers are using their savings to alleviate debt burdens, with 15% citing debt accumulation as a significant pressure point on their savings.
7. Future Spending Plans: Consumer sentiment about future spending plans is mixed, with only a small fraction indicating plans to spend on items like pet care, motor vehicles, and travel.
Overall, the data suggests that while some consumers are still spending and borrowing, others are facing challenges in keeping up with credit payments, and many are tapping into their savings to cover expenses and debt obligations
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