The US credit card debt has already reached $1.1 trillion in March, an all-time record.
Moreover, even when adjusted for inflation this debt has hit a record, surpassing the 2020 levels.
Are US consumers' finances seriously stretched?
Full analysis below👇 pic.twitter.com/cPrbTdAcy3
— Global Markets Investor (@GlobalMktObserv) April 3, 2024
Are US consumers’ finances seriously stretched?
Over the last few quarters, the largest driver of the US economy has pulled back their spending
In recent months, we have heard a lot of voices pointing out a material (or upcoming) weakness of the US consumers’ finances which may negatively weigh on the GDP growth. Among those voices, there is a lot of noise and data inconsistencies which often mislead market participants and ordinary people. This piece tries to explain most of them, clarifies the misconceptions, and answers key questions regarding this key US economic engine. It is mentioned as the key because as you can see in the graph personal consumption expenditures accounted for 67.7% of the US GDP as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.