一项对美国家庭财务状况的最新研究发现，债务逾期率已升至自2008年金融危机以来未见的水平。研究人员表示，尽管收入群体之间的财富差距在近年来略有缩小，但许多家庭跟上债务还款的能力却急剧恶化。
A new study of US household finances found that debt delinquencies have climbed to levels not recorded since the 2008 financial crisis. Researchers said wealth gaps between income groups narrowed slightly even as many households' ability to keep up with debt payments deteriorated sharply. A newly published study finds that US households' ability to keep up with their debt has fallen to a level not seen since the 2008 financial crisis.
该研究进一步指出，越来越多的家庭在应对消费债务方面遇到困难，尤其是信用卡和汽车贷款。分析人士称，尽管官方失业率仍处于相对低位，但数据表明许多家庭的财务状况依然紧张。
Researchers said the wealth gap between income groups has narrowed slightly in recent years, but that improvement has come alongside a sharp rise in missed payments. The findings point to a marked increase in the share of households struggling with consumer debt, particularly credit cards and auto loans. Analysts say the data shows how financially stretched many families remain even as the official unemployment rate stays comparatively low.
经济学家正密切关注逾期率上升对消费支出和信贷市场的潜在影响。这些数据预计将成为联邦储备局利率政策讨论以及银行决定收紧贷款标准的重要依据。
Economists are watching closely to see how the rise in delinquencies ripples through consumer spending and credit markets. The figures are expected to feature in debates over the Federal Reserve's interest-rate path and in banks' decisions on how tightly to set lending standards.