Static CPI leads to optimism about inflation
Credit Sesame discusses the static CPI in October 2023 and whether the US should be optimistic about inflation. You could say investors make much about nothing. But when the “nothing” is the rise in consumer prices, it is potentially a big deal. A favorable report on inflation sent positive shock waves through the financial markets. […]
News roundup November 18, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup November 18, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Average credit card balances at a 10-year high Credit bureau TransUnion reported that the average credit card balance owed by consumers rose to its highest level in 10 years during […]
Making ends meet got harder in 2023
Credit Sesam discusses how making ends meet got harder over the last two years from September 2021 to September 2023. From the beginning of September 2021 to the beginning of September 2023, prices were up by 12.2% based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). However, simply measuring the inflation rate doesn’t really tell the story […]
Consumers should not take credit score gains for granted
Credit Sesame discusses recent credit score gains and why the rising trend may have ended. FICO recently announced that the US average for its widely-used credit score reached an all-time high earlier in 2023. That’s good news, but it has some strings attached. There are several reasons to believe that some recent credit score gains […]
News roundup November 11, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup November 11, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Survey finds resumption of student loan payments adding to consumer stress The TransUnion Consumer Pulse study found that just 58% of student loan borrowers said they expected to be able […]
Credit card fraud and how to avoid it
Credit Sesame discusses credit card fraud, steps to avoid it and what to do if it happens to you. In the Apple TV+ show “The Big Door Prize,” a mysterious machine offers residents of a small town a chance to learn their true life potential for a few quarters. Once inside the booth, they’re also […]
The return of bond vigilantes
Credit Sesame discusses bond vigilantes, what they do and how they may combat inflation. In the 1970s, there was a bit of a fad for vigilante movies. Films like Death Wish and Walking Tall highlighted the idea of a lone man resorting to extraordinary means to right the wrongs of society. In the 1980s, a […]
News roundup November 4, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup November 4, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Job growth cooled in October 2023 National employment grew by 150,000 jobs in October 2023. That represents a substantial slowing from September’s job growth of 297,000 and from the monthly […]
Mastering credit card basics
Credit Sesame on how mastering credit card basics could be your first step to financial freedom. A credit card is more than a piece of plastic in your wallet. It’s a symbol of your financial independence. It’s a lifeline in the event of an unexpected expense. It’s a tool for building credit. And if you’re […]
Changing job market may hit recent grads the hardest
Credit Sesame discusses how a changing job market may hit recent graduates the hardest. This year’s graduating classes left school to join a booming job market. For some, though, their introduction to the workplace may not be quite so welcoming. While the job market remains strong, certain areas show signs of weakness. Recent college graduates […]
News roundup October 28, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup October 28, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. GDP soared in third quarter of 2023 The US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an inflation-adjusted annual rate of 4.9% in the third quarter of 2023. That’s more than twice […]
America’s credit dependency is rising
Credit Sesame examines the rise of America’s credit dependency using U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data. Credit use in America is on the rise. This is an expected response to the shock of high inflation but also a cause for concern. Higher interest rates make borrowing more expensive, while the threat of a recession […]
The 2024 federal budget challenge budget deficit
Credit Sesame discusses U.S. government budgeting considerations for the 2024 federal budget. For the second time in 2023, U.S. Congress is facing a financial impasse. Earlier in the year, this involved a standoff over the debt ceiling. Now, it is about finalizing and approving the 2024 federal budget so as to allow the government to […]
News roundup October 21, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup October 21, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Consumer delinquencies rise More consumers were late with their debt payments in September 2023. Payment delinquency rates rose across all forms of consumer debt measured by the TransUnion Credit Industry […]
How do Americans rate their financial fitness?
Credit Sesame discusses how Americans rate their financial fitness. To some extent, financial fitness is in the eye of the beholder. Survey data compiled in late 2022 by Credit Sesame suggest that there are some measurable things that may influence how financially fit people consider themselves. The things that seem to go hand in hand […]
