(NewsNation) — Mortgages make up the bulk of household debt but a new analysis shows most Americans owe thousands of dollars beyond their home loans, with members of Gen X carrying the highest balances. Across the 100 largest metros in the U.S., the median non-mortgage debt is $24,668, according to online lending marketplace LendingTree. Gen … Read more
Cultura Rm Exclusive/twinpix | Image Source | Getty Images Home equity is near all-time highs. But tapping it may be tough due to high interest rates, according to financial advisors. Total home equity for U.S. mortgage holders rose to more than $17 trillion in the first quarter of 2024, just shy of the record set … Read more
Ryanjlane | E+ | Getty Images Sometimes, it pays to pay with cash. More merchants are offering a lower price to customers who use cash rather than credit card for a purchase. That means opting for paper over plastic may save you money in some cases. Just how much? Typically, cash discounts run about … Read more
Automated fast food restaurant CaliExpress by Flippy, in Pasadena, Calif., opened in January to considerable hype due to its robot burger makers, but the restaurant launched with another, less heralded innovation: the ability to pay for your meal with your face. CaliExpress uses a payment system from facial ID tech company PopID. To activate it, … Read more
Although Americans’ average credit scores recently dropped for the first time in a decade, many appear to be maintaining a relatively healthy score. The average credit score dipped by one point, from 718 to 717, according to FICO’s March 6 blog post. Your FICO and VantageScore credit score can fall anywhere between 300 and 850, … Read more
Hinterhaus Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images Savings accounts Higher rates mean that consumers have to pay more to service their debt, but it also means that banks pay higher rewards to savers. It’s one of the silver linings to the current rate environment, said Ted Rossman, chief credit card analyst at Bankrate. “There’s also … Read more
Economists expect the Federal Reserve to leave interest rates unchanged at the end of its two-day meeting this week, even though many experts anticipate the central bank is preparing to start cutting rates in the months ahead. In prepared remarks earlier this month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said policymakers don’t want to ease up too quickly. Powell … Read more
The days of double digit late fees for late credit card payments may be coming to an end. On Tuesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule that will cap credit card late fees at $8. Currently, card users are typically hit with a $32 fee for late payments, according to the agency. The … Read more
Runstudio | The Image Bank | Getty Images Credit card interest rates have ballooned to record highs in recent years â and the growing portion of the formula that generates profit for card issuers is partly to blame, according to a new analysis by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The average consumer paid a 22.8% … Read more
Total credit card debt in the U.S. has reached a record high â but people are putting less money toward paying it down. Americans collectively hold $1.13 trillion in credit card debt as of the end of December, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s latest Household Debt and Credit Report. On an … Read more
