Government News

Some medical debts can be erased from credit reports

Starting this year, the three leading credit agencies began wiping medical debt under $500 from americans’ credit reports. To benefit from this change, you don’t have to do anything. But experts say it’s still smart to check on it. “If…

Debt collectors re-evaluate medical debt furnishing in light of data integrity issues

A new CFPB report estimates that medical collections tradelines declined by 37 percent between 2018 and 2022. “Market Snapshot: An Update on Third-Party Debt Collections Tradelines Reporting” also found that medical debt constitutes a majority (57 percent) of all collections on credit…

U.S. hits its debt limit and now risks defaulting on its bills

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in a letter to Congress on Thursday, said the U.S. has reached its debt limit, and has begun resorting to “extraordinary measures” so the government can continue paying its bills. Yellen had already previously warned the…

China’s recovery may mean the Fed will have to hike rates longer

As the end of China’s stringent Covid restrictions quickens the country’s economic recovery, concerns about pent-up Chinese demand — and the inflation that may follow — could mean bad news for the U.S. Federal Reserve. Economic data indicates that the Fed’s aggressive…

Inflation Causing Rise In Card Debt And Consumers Living Paycheck To Paycheck

An early December survey from U.S. News & World Report shows that more than eight in 10 Americans who have credit card debt are experiencing anywhere from a little to a lot of anxiety about it. Nearly 31% have at least $6,000…

Mortgage rates fall for the third week in a row as inflation fears ease

CNN —  Mortgage rates dipped again this week, marking the third straight week of falling rates. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.49% in the week ending December 1, down from 6.58% the week before, according to Freddie Mac. A year ago, the…

Credit card debt in the U.S. hits all-time high of $930 billion—here’s how to tackle yours with a balance transfer

Credit card debt hit a record high of $930 billion for Americans in the final quarter of 2019, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released on Feb. 11. That’s a $46 billion increase in credit…

There are 7,060 collections agencies in the U.S.—here’s what to do you if your credit card debt is sent to one

Collections agencies buy your unpaid credit card debt from your card issuer when your balance lingers too long — but that doesn’t mean it goes away. When a collections representative from your credit card issuer calls you, it’s usually because…

US Fed’s rate hikes and performance of commodities

The US Federal Reserve increased interest rates by 75 basis points in its latest policy meeting, its fourth straight supersized hike this year. This decision lifts the target for the benchmark federal funds rates to its highest level since 2008. After keeping…

Mortgage rates fall sharply to under 7% after inflation eases

Mortgage rates fell sharply Thursday after a government report showed that inflation had cooled in October, prompting a decline in bond yields. The average rate on the 30-year fixed plunged 60 basis points from 7.22% to 6.62%, according to Mortgage News Daily.…