More Americans are falling behind on their car loan and credit card payments than at any time in more than a decade, a troubling signal of consumer stress as higher prices and rising borrowing costs are squeezing household budgets.

The pain is most acute for lower-income earners, who have largely used whatever they managed to save during the pandemic with the help of government stimulus checks and breaks on obligations such as rent and student loans. …

Now, as the economy finds its post-pandemic footing, there are signs the hardship for millions of consumers will get worse before it improves.

[Yeah, Bidenomics is really going well, huh? Get ready for another stimulus/personal debt bailout bill next summer so that Biden can buy votes for his re-election campaign. Republicans who oppose it will get castigated as Scrooges unwilling to help out The Little Guy. Bank on it, so to speak. — Ed]