Credit scores are falling at the fastest pace since the great recession. The national average FICO score dropped by three points this year, which is the most since 2009. Credit scores are significantly higher than during the great recession, but they’re down for the second year in a row. FICO also found a growing share of borrowers are falling behind on car loans, credit cards and personal loans. Why? Household debt is climbing and inflation is starting to take a bigger bite out of people’s paychecks. Younger Americans are getting hit twice, with high student debt and low entry-level hiring. Only 17% of those with student debt were paying it down last year.
The findings underscore the growing disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street. U. S. stocks are hitting record highs while a significant chunk of Americans say they’re hurting. As they say, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.
