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Subprime loans have reached levels that were last seen only
during the financial crisis. As fewer good borrowers are available, lenders are digging into every nook and cranny of the economy to find additional borrowers…In 2014 $189 billion in subprime loans were made. Welcome back to the easy debt party.
By MyBudget.com. [The original article*, as posted on said site under the title Subprime lending at highest level since financial crisis hit: The three leading subprime categories are auto loans, credit cards, and student debt. $189 billion in subprime loans made in 2014 has been abbreviated below to ensure a fast and easy read.]
Subprime lending is rising in a big way…According to the Wall Street Journal almost 40% of loans for autos, credit cards and personal borrowing in the U.S. went to subprime customers (those with a credit score below 640 on a scale that tops out at 850) during the first 11 months of 2014 which amounted to more than 50 million consumer loans and cards totaling more than $189 billion, the highest levels since 2007, when subprime loans represented 41% of consumer lending outside of home mortgages.
Subprime Auto Loans
The Wall Street Journal compiled some fascinating figures on subprime lending. Take a look at subprime auto loans first:
There is nearly as much subprime auto debt as there was in 2006 when the market was going crazy on lending junk loans. $129 billion in subprime auto debt was made in 2014.
Subprime Credit Card Debt
$21 billion in subprime credit card debt was extended in 2014.
Subprime Personal Loans
Another $26 billion in subprime personal loans were made in 2014.
Non-housing Debt Balance Growing
A good portion of the consumer spending that is happening is coming from marginal borrowers. What happens [to them] when the economy hits its next recession?
Conclusion
People are living on the marginal edge and we already know half of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. [All this] access to subprime debt is going to do [is] allow them to consume future income (which in many cases is in the form of low wages) and make any ability for financial security disappear.
[Indeed,] since almost 40% of loans for autos, credit cards and personal borrowing in the U.S. went to subprime customers (i.e. those with a credit score below 640 on a scale that tops out at 850 reflecting late payments or too much debt relative to income) giving those with low scores more debt is to expect more defaults once slight hiccups hit.Subprime is back again and of course the current narrative is that it is different this time.
The article above is presented courtesy of Lorimer Wilson, editor of www.munKNEE.com (Your Key to Making Money!), and has been edited, abridged and/or reformatted (some sub-titles and bold/italics emphases) for the sake of clarity and brevity to ensure a fast and easy read. This paragraph must be included in any article re-posting to avoid copyright infringement.
*Original Source: http://www.mybudget360.com/subprime-lending-auto-credit-cards-debt-low-income/ (If you enjoyed this post click here to subscribe to a complete feed and stay up to date with today’s challenging market!)
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