Defaults and Late payments on home-equity loans and credit cards are climbing to the highest levels. According the the American Banker’s Association the figures are alarming and disturbing. The worst hit area is home-equity loans. If this trend continued, it has a potential to develop into a major credit crisis in near future.
How This Happened?
In my opinion availability of cheap credit and rising house prices during early part of this decade created a window for home owners to take home-equity loans. Consumers were literally treating their homes like they were liquid assets (cash in bank or ATM). They were buy consumables and services(insane). All was well until the home prices started going down and down. The market collapsed and the consumers were left in pile of debt. 
The data shows that default rates on home equity loans have climbed to more than 3.5 percent in first quarter of 2009. The late payments on credit cards is also touching 2% levels. This is a big jump compared to the figures this time last year.
One in 9 American is Jobless
The major contribution in this mess is Un-employment. According to official data, every 1 in 10 person is out of job. This is national average. there are states where every 1 in 8 people is out of job. worse thing is that is just a beginning. Job losses will keep on rising and people’s ability to pay their bills will come to a grinding halt.
