lenders

Experts say it's putting consumers and the car industry under pressure.

After years of pouring money into private credit, high-profile defaults and AI jitters have investors running for the exits.

Elevated car prices and interest rates have been squeezing lower-income buyers.

A report from Bankrate found that lenders rejected nearly half of all loan applications in 2024, and auto loan and mortgage refinance rejections hit record highs.

Regulators are more watchful, and banks are trying to be more resourceful.

Rising interest rates have cranked up the interest banks are paying depositors. But banks also have a lot of cash stuck in low-interest bonds and loans they made before the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates.

Pending home sales fell more than 7% in August, according to the National Association of Realtors. While demand for homes is still high, people are having a harder time qualifying for mortgages — and that’s intensifying demand for cheaper homes.

Office building vacancies remain elevated, especially in coastal cities. Lenders worry about developers’ ability to pay back their debt.