What we're recommending is that people take out as much cash as they would need for a long weekend. And if you're relying on credit cards, request copies of your credit report before and after the century change so you can spot and correct any Y2K errors immediately.
Signs of financial stress still are present. The persistent interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve and record high gas prices in the third quarter provided a one-two punch that continued to inflict pain on personal budgets.
She is so smart, it's scary. She's very much a theoretician, but it's always directed toward what's practical and possible.
My concern is many people are having financial difficulties. Personal savings rates are down. There is less of a buffer to fall back on.
What the delinquencies tell us is that there are more people who are under financial stress. The rise in energy prices is sucking up much more of households' budgets than they ever did.
With job growth strong over the last year and gas prices easing by year-end, the delinquency picture has brightened considerably.
Continued strong economic growth and falling gas prices in the fourth quarter leaves me hopeful that delinquencies will continue to fall.
The rise in auto and other consumer loan delinquencies reflects the avalanche of layoffs over the past year and a half. Until job growth gains upward momentum, relatively high levels of delinquencies will remain.
It may be many months before its impact is reflected in the delinquency picture.
The fall in delinquencies was a welcome change, but signs of financial stress still are present.
Gas prices don't look like they are coming down any time soon. Today, it costs $500 more than it did last year to operate a car. That's a whole lot of money.
The industry is very sensitive to the fact that delinquencies have risen over the last two years. They have already taken steps to tighten underwriting standards -- to stop solicitations to risky customers.
The full financial effect of Katrina is still unknown. It may be many months before its impact is reflected in the delinquency picture and will depend on the success of reconstruction efforts in those regions.
The last two quarters have not been pretty. Gas prices are taking huge chunks out of wallets, leaving some individuals with little left to meet their financial obligations.
