💸 A shocking 13% of Americans are now 90+ days behind on bill payments – and this isn’t just a low-income problem. As 2026 unfolds, middle-class families are increasingly trapped in what economists call the “Kill Line” debt spiral. But how did we get here?
📉 CGTN’s Yu Bokun reports that stagnant wages, rising healthcare costs, and student loan burdens have created a perfect storm. “The safety net is gone,” one Ohio teacher told us, “My $75k salary can’t cover daycare AND medical bills.” Sound familiar?
🔥 New data shows credit card APRs hitting 28% this month – the highest since 1991. Meanwhile, “Buy Now Pay Later” schemes tempt Gen Z into risky spending habits. Financial advisor Lisa Chen warns: “Debt is becoming normalized as survival strategy.”
🌐 Global markets watch nervously as U.S. consumer spending dips. Could this debt time bomb reshape the 2026 economic landscape? Stay tuned for our deep dive next week!
