Thursday, September 10, 2009

Consumer Credit Toast?

"The market has been on a tear since March precisely because the banks have been able to cover up their insolvency and are gambling with that Federal "put" to them but in doing so they have further damaged the consumer's balance sheet. Not only have interest rates spiked higher on consumer revolving credit (credit cards) but in addition the banks have plowed money into commodities (oil in particular) doubling its price over the last few months and putting a further twist on the thumbscrew of consumer budgets via gasoline prices!

This is now showing up in the outstanding credit numbers - the consumer's balance sheet and health is deteriorating fast as consumers simply are unable to afford their existing debts, say much less taking on any new ones. There is zero evidence of stabilization in this regard, irrespective of Geithner's claims to the contrary."

Read the rest at Market Ticker

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