this post authored by Juan Sflnchez, Assistant Vice President and Economist; and Olivia Wilkinson, Research Associate
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, total credit card debt1 in the United States dropped 13%, reaching a low of $807 billion by the end of third quarter of 2020. Prior to this decline, total credit card debt had reached a record high of nearly $930 billion. Using aggregate credit card debt data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the figure below shows the deleveraging pattern of the last two recessions, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 downturn.
This blog post uses individual level data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York/Equifax Consumer Credit Panel to show that although the evolution of credit card debt looks similar at the aggregate level during these two episodes, the underlying individual changes in credit card debt during these two events are quite different.
She Bought a Truck on eBay, Then Forgot It. A Dementia Diagnosis Came Later.
Impulsive purchases, out-of-control spending: These behaviors can be early signs of Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive decline.
Maria Turner has chronic traumatic encephalopathy, possibly linked to concussions she suffered as a competitive horseback rider in her youth.Credit.Audra Melton for The New York Times
By Michelle Andrews
April 29, 2021
After Maria Turner’s minivan was totaled in an accident a dozen years ago, she grew impatient waiting for the insurance company to process the claim.
One night, she saw a red pickup truck on eBay for $20,000. She thought it was just what she needed. She clicked “buy it now” and went to bed. The next morning, she got an email about arranging delivery. Only then did she remember what she had done.