Shortly Before September 24, 2009: Report: Credit Card Write-Offs Have Risen; Delinquencies Linked to Joblessness

Moody’s Investors Service reports that write-offs for credit cards have risen from 10.52 percent to 11.49 percent, and the number of 30 and 60 day overdue credit balances has increased as well. Many economists say that throughout the recession delinquency rates for credit cards are likely to continue to steadily rise because of a continuously high rate of unemployment. Experts warn that joblessness will stay high for a long time, even after the recovery. Currently, the national unemployment rate is 9.7 percent, with predictions that it will exceed 10 percent before heading for a significant decrease. In the short term, with so many unemployed people behind on credit card payments, delinquencies are expected to remain high. [Credit.com, 9/24/2009]