Consumer financial distress is at its worst level in 12 years according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, with over 11% of Americans making only minimum payments on credit cards and delinquencies hitting record highs.
This crisis stems from years of above-target inflation that has outpaced wage growth, forcing many to rely on credit cards for essential expenses.
A recent survey found one-third of Americans use credit cards to make ends meet, with many maxing out their cards. With interest rates averaging 21.37%, minimum payments barely cover interest charges.