You might have missed it in the headlines, but US Bancorp recently initiated significant job cuts, with areas like talent acquisition and technology taking a hit. But what does this mean for the broader financial landscape?
Well, let’s talk about multifamily commercial real estate (CRE) mortgages – a sector that’s been quietly raising red flags. While apartments have held up better than other segments like office and retail, cracks are starting to show, with some eye-popping defaults in recent months.
Here’s the kicker: the bulk of these multifamily mortgages aren’t held by banks, but by government agencies, pension funds, and other investors. And with credit card debt soaring to levels not seen since before the 2008 Financial Crisis, the stage is set for trouble.
The typical consumer now pays over $500/month toward their credit card alone. As interest rates rise, so are delinquency rates. Higher rates for longer means more trouble as we now have record credit card debt.
Additionally, US consumer SERIOUS (90+ days) delinquency rates in auto loans and credit card debt for the most productive cohort (18-39) have been the highest since the Great Financial Crisis. The US consumer is getting into more trouble as time passes.
Vanguard’s recent revelation that the Federal Reserve may not cut rates this year adds another layer of uncertainty to the mix. As households pile on credit card debt to combat inflation, banks could find themselves in hot water.
So, what’s the bottom line? Keep an eye on the banking sector, folks – there may be stormy weather ahead.
Sources:
US Bancorp reportedly began a significant round of job cuts today, impacting areas like talent acquisition and technology
— MacroEdge (@MacroEdgeRes) March 19, 2024
Who’s on the Hook for Multifamily CRE Mortgages? #1 Taxpayers, far ahead of #2 Banks.
Another reason why the Fed can let the CRE swoon rip.https://t.co/KhjjzIFS7S pic.twitter.com/TFvyR9Buxd— Wolf Richter (@wolfofwolfst) March 18, 2024
Buy the dippers are gonna get crushed
A Texas pension fund lost about $9 million over the past 13 months investing in U.S. regional banking firms just days before their stock prices collapsed.#banking crisis pic.twitter.com/0qUyOJ4zqw
— The Coastal Journal (@1CoastalJournal) March 19, 2024
BREAKING: Vanguard says the Federal Reserve may not cut rates this year.
… oops
HT to @GhostOpsCIA202 https://t.co/WxRVwcUwKP
— Financelot (@FinanceLancelot) March 19, 2024
Credit card debt is officially rising faster than it was prior to the 2008 Financial Crisis.
It took only 4 years for households to set a new record debt level after paying down borrowings in 2021.
Before that, the time from one debt peak to the next was 3 times longer, at 12… pic.twitter.com/rw2x2OUHt3
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 18, 2024
Meanwhile, banks seem to be doing relatively little to curb that credit card use — total unused credit card lines continued to grow, at least through Q4 of 2023.https://t.co/nCNtDwDoFy
— David Sommers (@dgsommersmkts) March 18, 2024
For the first time in history, U.S. Households are spending as much on interest payments for non-mortgage debts as they are on homes pic.twitter.com/0iOCsHU4M3
— Win Smart, CFA (@WinfieldSmart) March 18, 2024
Views: 266