Debt - to - credit ratio: Also often referred to as a «credit utilization ratio,» this is the total amount
of debt a consumer has accrued versus their total credit allotment.
This timeframe is based on the amount
of debt the consumer holds and the ease with which it can be negotiated or settled with their creditors.
«The amount
of debt a consumer carries tends to be highly predictive of future credit performance because the amount a person owes has a direct impact on her or his ability to pay all their credit obligations on time each month,» said Barry Paperno, a credit scoring expert who has worked for FICO and Experian.
That puts you far ahead of the vast majority
of debt consumers I think.
The amount
of debt consumers piled up increased by 4.91 percent in the third quarter of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, and increased by half a percent compared to the previous quarter.
Not exact matches
Debt levels for the average Canadian household are moving down (perhaps we've been taking those warnings from the Bank
of Canada to heart), and as a result there's been «modest» growth in
consumer spending, said Ferley.
But
debt is still a major consideration for most Canadians when they head out to shop, which is limiting the strength in
consumer spending and having an effect on the balance sheets
of retailers, Ferley added.
But in recent years, as the Bank
of Canada held interest rates to historically low levels and
consumer debt skyrocketed, the federal government tightened mortgage restrictions on regulated financial institutions, including HCG.
Those
consumers are carrying record levels
of debt, so it's unlikely they can be counted on to carry the economy for much longer.
The savings rate is close to the 25 - year average
of five per cent, which doesn't point to a
consumer debt apocalypse.
A new survey by the
Consumer Federation of America lists auto sales, home repairs and debt disputes among the top consumer
Consumer Federation
of America lists auto sales, home repairs and
debt disputes among the top
consumerconsumer gripes.
Consumer debt servicing dropped to 3.0 % in the first quarter, from a peak
of 4.2 % in the fourth quarter
of 2007.
The result is Canada is at «some risk»
of a balance sheet recession — a period
of slow growth or decline caused by
consumers saving and paying down
debt rather than spending.
Consumer debt - servicing has fallen recently, and ratings agency DBRS warns
of the risk
of mortgage defaults
Focus on eliminating your monthly credit - card balance first, then other forms
of consumer debt such as car loans and lines
of credit.
Though Portugal is one
of the fastest growing euro zone economies, problems with non-performing loans and high
debt among businesses, individuals and government are a big hurdle - mainly at a time when the government's strategy is focused on
consumer spending.
On the other hand, leaving the interest rate low encourages the kind
of borrowing and spending that has produced record - high levels
of consumer debt in Canada and pushed housing prices into the stratosphere.
Robert Abboud, a certified financial planner based in Ottawa and author
of No Regrets: A Common Sense Guide to Achieving and Affording Your Life Goals, says high - interest - bearing
consumer debt should be tackled first.
Through its «seven baby steps,» (and radio program, TV show, podcast, courses and live events) the Ramsey organization has helped millions
of Americans get out from the crushing burden
of consumer debt and begin building wealth through smart saving, responsible spending and careful investing.
If
consumers are tapped out or wary
of taking on more
debt, then bank credit can be expanded to the moon and households will not borrow more money.
That's a lot
of consumer debt for a nation
of 300 million people.
Consumer advocates would like to see the agency require every company involved in selling, buying, or collecting
debts to ensure the integrity and accuracy
of the information used in the process.
In its latest study on private student loans, the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau completes what up until now has been a fragmented picture
of America's growing student
debt crisis.
Researchers said it carries over to
debt repayment strategies, where the «small victory»
of paying off a card balance can motivate
consumers to dig out
of debt faster.
A 2012 study
of debt - payoff strategies from Northwestern University's Kellogg School
of Management found that
consumers paying off small balances first were more likely to have eliminated their entire
debt than those focusing on other strategies.
The average age
of a U.S. vehicle is nearly 12 years old, a reflection
of car quality but also swelling
consumer debt, an expert tells CNBC.
One out
of five credit reports contains medical
debt in collections, according to
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report.
«The
debt buyers find it very lucrative to file a lot
of lawsuits at once, without doing a lot
of work,» said Margo Saunders, staff attorney with the National
Consumer Law Center.
By taking your student loan
debt and combining it with your other outstanding
consumer debt — cedit cards, mortgages, lines
of credit and loans — you have the ability to negotiate or take advantage
of a lower interest rate, all while streamlining your payments to one lender and one payment per month.
Consumers who used
debt to fund holiday purchases last year took on an average
of $ 1,003 in new
debt, according to MagnifyMoney.
Known as
debt settlement, it's a process by which
consumers stop paying unsecured creditors, wait months or even years until creditors have given up hope
of collecting, then offer to settle outstanding balances for mere fractions
of the amounts owing.
But much
of that is contingent on
consumer spending, which is being financed by record levels
of debt.
As economic satisfaction increases, «
consumers are more comfortable spending and confident they can manage any new
debt,» said Rod Griffin, Experian's director
of public education.
«The rule is an important first step and will benefit some
consumers who need relief the most, but a great deal
of work is still needed to ensure that American families are no longer ensnared in the
debt trap
of high interest, abusive loans,» Michael Best, director
of advocacy outreach at
Consumer Federation
of America, said in a statement.
Nashville - based Gibson, whose legendary brands include Les Paul and SG, has been suffering under $ 500 million in
debt linked to the acquisition
of its
consumer electronics business overseas, where sales have been in sharp decline.
Consumers using their tax refund to pay down credit card
debt should also look for ways to improve their cash flow, said Andrea Blackwelder, a certified financial planner and a co-founder
of Wisdom Wealth Strategies in Denver.
In the near term, higher interest rates will have an immediate effect on
consumers with credit card
debt, home equity lines
of credit and those carrying adjustable rate mortgages.
Candace Klein, the CEO
of SoMoLend, a
debt - based funding platform, points out: «We are usually targeting
consumer - facing brick - and - mortar companies — restaurants, retailers, salons, gyms — that already have customers, already have cash flow, and can service
debt.
The record high levels
of consumer debt among Canadians has also raised a red flag from Bank
of Canada governor Mark Carney and others who have warned that interest rates will rise at some point — raising the cost
of borrowing.
Wayne, New Jersey - based Toys «R» Us, which also owns the Babies «R» Us chain, is among dozens
of traditional brick - and - mortar retailers that have struggled under high
debt as more
consumers shop online.
U.S.
consumers continued to pay down
debt in the first quarter
of 2013 as household wealth rose above its pre-recession peak.
Because there aren't many bargain stocks out there, she recommends taking advantage
of low rates on student loan and
consumer debt to pay down slowly while investing with cash savings.
The Times cites Robyn Smith, a lawyer with the National
Consumer Law Center, who «has seen shoddy and inaccurate paperwork in dozens
of cases involving private student loans from a variety
of lenders and
debt buyers, which she detailed in a 2014 report.»
Their
debt now is in excess
of 160 %
of disposable income, a level that suggests
consumers will be more inclined to get right with their lenders than to continue spending at their post-crisis pace.
«Many
consumers have learned the hard lessons
of recession, and have redoubled their efforts to keep
debt at manageable levels,» ABA's chief economist, James Chessen, said in a statement.
c) the amount
of money that the
consumer must owe or the percentage
of each
of the
consumer's
debts that must be outstanding before the operator will initiate attempts with the creditors
of the
consumer or their
debt collectors to negotiate, settle or modify the terms
of the
consumer's
debts;
«Forced arbitration is a get - out -
of - jail - free card that lets banks, payday lenders, and
debt relief scammers avoid accountability when they violate the law,» said Lauren Saunders, associate director
of the National
Consumer Law Center, in a statement.
At the end
of the day, though, the biggest threat to Canada might likely come not from financial markets, but from what a
debt ceiling breach would do to U.S.
consumer and business confidence and thus the pace
of growth south
of the border.
h) the effect
of the services on collection efforts
of the creditors
of the
consumer or their
debt collectors.
With the rate
of home ownership now close to 70 %, and with household
debt at a record high, much
of the financial health
of Canadian households is inextricably linked to home values, making it the kind
of dominant concern that not only affects household finances, but
consumer psychology and confidence.