Tag Archives: Subprime

Rising consumer debt linked to lackluster retail

WOMAN AND CREDIT CARDConsumer debt, and not just wicked winter weather, is having a chilling effect on retail sales. Consumer debt rose by $241 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013, the largest period increase seen since the fall of 2007, according to a recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

At the same time consumers were taking on more debt, retailers from Abercrombie and Fitch to Wal-Mart reported lackluster sales largely blamed on inclement weather and deflationary margins.  Read more from this City Wire article from Kim Souza here.

The New Car Gal

Mary Barra - GM CEOLast Tuesday, GM’s board named Mary Barra, a 33-year company veteran, as its next CEO, making her the first woman to lead a major car company.

Barra replaces Dan Akerson, who moved up retirement plans by several months to help his wife, Karin, battle advanced cancer.

When Barra starts her new job on January 15, she will lead a company that’s made nearly $20 billion since emerging from bankruptcy in 2010, much of it from the cars and trucks she helped develop. But she still faces challenges…read more by clicking here.

Subprime Borrowing is HOT in the Car Biz

2013-11-20Today, people are able to buy new cars even with a credit score lower than 500.  A year ago that would have been very difficult to pull off.  Dealerships all over the country are offering deals for high credit risk buyers as long as they have a good job, current utility bills that are in good standing, and some money for a down payment.

 

The market for subprime borrowing is hot and this time the car business is leading the way.  The central bank’s stimulus is making it easier for people with spotty credit to buy cars as investors purchase riskier bonds linked to auto loans.   Below are some interesting facts surrounding subprime lending:

 

  • Subprime car buyers account for more than 27% of loans for new vehicles, compared to 25% last year and 18% in 2009.
  • Issuance of bonds linked to subprime auto loans soared to $17.2 billion this year, more than double the amount sold during the same period in 2010.
  • Some experts believe that vehicle loans are safer because the underlying asset can be more accurately valued, it’s easier to repossess, and people who need a car to get to work make that payment a priority.
  • 58% of loans taken out to purchase Chrysler’s Dodge brand vehicles in October were with loans above the industry average of 4.2% annual percentage rate, according to Edmunds, a researcher that tracks vehicle sales. 
  • Buyers with imperfect credit account for 27% of loans for new vehicles.

READ MORE BY CLICKING HERE

 

 

 

 

CH 7 Filings & Discharges

Filings and Discharges are down respectively by 10% from the first 42 weeks of 2013 compared to the first 42 weeks of 2012.  Filings declined 10.6% while Discharges declined by 10.5%.

2013-10-23

PLEASE NOTE: Our data is based on one per household, minus multiple filers and has been cleansed to postal specifications.

TOP 10 States for CH 7 Discharges

The top 10 states for Chapter 7 Discharges comprise 54.7% of all discharges year-to-date.  Leading the pack is California with 15% of the total Discharges and over twice as many as the runner-up, Florida.

2013-09-18

PLEASE NOTE: Our data is based on one per household, minus multiple filers and has been cleansed to postal specifications.

 

Subprime Lending In Stimulation Mode

bebdata on twitterCredit card and vehicle financing subprime lending is in a stimulation mode.  A recent study showed 25% of risk managers at banks and other financial institutions surveyed expect subprime lending to expand in the next six-months.  About 50% of those predict a rise will surface in auto loans which indicates that the market may be loosening.