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Credit Woes Hit Home

Wall Street Journal Original article ›

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Another significant development in this crisis, is how small businesses got addicted to credit card debt as a way to operate for ongoing expenses of the small business, from a small nursery, to abed and breakfast or a solo law practice. There are an estimated 27.2 million small businesses who are supposed to be one of the growth engines of the economy. Credit card debt when banks are tightening up credit and businesses are unable to meet expenses, is extremely costly because of the underlying usurious nature of the industry in the US and lax regulation. It will only push more businesses, that have acquired the bad habit of credit cards to finance operations, into bankruptcy. There were 5 million business credit cards in 2000. By 2009 after Visa Inc, American Express Co, and MasterCard Inc. and Discover Financial Services Inc. pushed these cards aggressively, using a new credit scoring system that looked less at the business and more at personal credit scores, the number jumped six fold to what Nilsen Reports estimates as 29 million business credit cards. The spending on these cards jumped for this period four fold, from $70 billion to $296 billion. As the average debt on each credit card jumped so did the likelihood of some of these card holders difficulties. Missed payments could lead to interest rates for some card holders jumping to 30+% from initial rates of 7-8%, all in the last 12 months. This makes small businesses less likely to create the jobs they created in the past, and one more troublespot in this economy.

Savings habits of younger Americans after the economic crisis of 2008-2009

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For many the experiences of parents postponing retirement because of low savings, or facing unemployment and foreclosure, are leading to debt reduction and lower credit card use. Younger workers in the U.S. in 2012-2013 are also contributing more to 401 (K) plans. Vanguard says the median annual contribution to 401 (K) and retirement savings accounts is 9%, including a 3% employer contribution. Vanguard says this is too low and is recommending Americans contribute annually 12-15%.

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Between 2000 and 2009 there was a sixfold jump in the number of business credit cards to 29 million and the debt on these cards jumped four fold to $296 billion. Small business owners acquired the bad habit of using these cards for operating expenses. with rising default rates, small businessowners are less likely to hire and create jobs as they have done before.

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