The hottest Consumer Debt Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

MBA: Mortgage Delinquencies Increased in Q4 2025

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
💰 Finance Consumer Debt
  1. Mortgage delinquencies rose in the fourth quarter of 2025 to a 4.26% rate, up about 27 basis points from the prior quarter and roughly 28 basis points year‑over‑year, while foreclosure starts held at 0.20%.
  2. Delinquencies increased across conventional, FHA, and VA loans, with FHA showing the biggest deterioration — about 11.52% delinquent and a notable jump in 90+ day delinquencies and foreclosure inventory.
  3. The rise appears linked to the expiration of pandemic-era FHA relief and uneven labor market conditions, and newer loan cohorts (2022–23) are struggling more than 2020–21 vintages, though improving FHA originations and moderating rates could help ease stress.

Top Links 758 Delinquent consumer debt. South Africa's unemployment crisis. Napoleon's sword and the legend of the "Black Star" pistol.

Chartbook • 472 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
💰 Finance Consumer Debt
  1. Delinquent consumer debt in the US is on the rise, which could indicate economic issues ahead.
  2. South Africa is facing a serious unemployment crisis, highlighting challenges in its job market.
  3. There are fascinating stories about Napoleon's sword and the legend surrounding the 'Black Star' pistol that connect history and culture.

Health insurers have spent over $141 billion buying back their own shares since 2007 while premiums and deductibles have skyrocketed

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 619 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🏥 Health Politics Consumer Debt
  1. Health insurers have spent about $141 billion on buying back their own shares since 2007. This means money that could help lower premiums is going to make executives richer instead.
  2. As health insurers buy back shares, premiums and deductibles for customers have gone up a lot. Many people are struggling with high medical debts while companies focus on profits.
  3. There are efforts to change laws around stock buybacks, but so far, nothing has passed. Many believe that these buybacks hurt workers and families instead of helping them.

Challenge Orthodoxy

Who is Robert Malone • 23 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
💰 Finance Consumer Debt
  1. The subscription-based economy is spreading into almost every industry, creating recurring costs that can stop people from owning things and building equity.
  2. Very long mortgages like 50-year loans push most payments toward interest for decades, so buying can feel like renting and leaves homeowners stuck with long-term liabilities.
  3. Building wealth means reducing dependence on subscriptions and long-term high-interest loans, owning assets outright when possible, paying down debt quickly, and keeping your own backups for important data.
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Too High for Too Long?

Modern Value Investing • 98 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
💰 Finance Consumer Debt
  1. Inflation measures are flawed, leading to skepticism about high interest rates, causing uncertainty for the US economy.
  2. The current rate hike cycle is more aggressive than previous cycles, potentially risking a recession in 2024.
  3. Challenges in real estate, student loan debts, and credit card debts, along with aggressive hiring, may indicate shaky ground for the US economy.

The Most Misleading Chart

Spilled Coffee • 44 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
💰 Finance Consumer Debt
  1. A commonly shared chart about U.S. credit card debt is misleading and creates unnecessary panic. It's crucial to look at the bigger picture to understand what this number really means.
  2. Despite rising credit card debt, consumers are still confident and spending money, which is often a good sign for the economy and stock market.
  3. When you see alarming headlines about growing credit card debt, remember that it's important to consider the overall context and how it reflects consumer behavior.