AFSA Members Report Improved Conditions in Q4 and Increasing Optimism About Business Conditions
Consumer finance companies’ assessments of the current and prospective business environment improved significantly in Fourth Quarter 2024 according to the results of AFSA’s latest Consumer Credit Conditions Index Survey (C3 Survey). Each quarter, survey respondents share their views on the current business situation, as well as their expectations for changes in the consumer-lending environment over…
AFSA Survey Points to Light at the End of the Tunnel for Consumer Lenders
The last few years have been challenging for consumers and providers of consumer credit alike. An historically sharp increase in interest rates, a slow slide in economic growth following a post-pandemic boom, growing household financial strain, and an increasingly adversarial regulatory climate are among the factors that have weighed on borrowers and lenders. Results from…
Consumers still skittish about economy ahead of election
AXIOS | The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index ticked down in October (within the margin of error) after two months of gains. Sentiment is 8% stronger than a year ago, and almost 40% above the trough reached in June 2022. Why it matters: “While inflation expectations have eased substantially, … consumers continue to express frustration over high prices,” survey director Joanne…
AFSA 2nd Quarter Consumer Credit Conditions (C3) Index Released
Survey of consumer credit industry shows economic strains, with increased demand for credit from consumers WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The American Financial Services Association, the country’s largest and oldest national consumer credit trade group, today released its quarterly Consumer Credit (C3) Index survey of leading providers of consumer credit, including mortgages, vehicle financing, personal installment loans, and credit cards….
70% of US Consumers Feel Stressed About Personal Finances
PYMNTS | In today’s competitive job market, traditional benefits like retirement plans and paid time off are falling short as workers demand immediate access to their earnings. Rising financial pressures and living costs are driving this shift, pushing employers to adapt or risk losing top talent. A PYMNTS Intelligence report, “No-Wait Wages: Leveraging Instant Payments…
Resilient consumers keep soft landing alive
Axios | The economy is on firmer footing than previously thought: Blowout consumer spending last month shows shoppers are not pulling back in a way that would be consistent with a recession. Why it matters: The “consumer slowdown” narrative fell apart last month. If it continues, that — along with receding inflation — could keep the…