Consumer credit creep

Inflation is affecting all of us. But when costs go up, lower-income households are especially vulnerable to credit creep — that’s when consumers use credit for more and more transactions. One survey found 29% of buy now, pay later users took out the loans to pay for groceries, double the percentage from just a couple of years ago. Also in this episode: What might happen to the labor market if Fed raises interest rates, how immigration crackdowns are tied to a 14-year homebuilder confidence low, and why political candidates are competing for AI attention.

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Read the stories in today’s episode:

• What will happen to the job market if the Fed raises interest rates? (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/19/how-the-job-m…)
• Struggling consumers are increasingly turning to high-cost credit for basic needs (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/19/highcost-cred…)
• This farmer was promised a $20,000 grant to go solar. USDA changed the rules (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/19/farmers-in-th…)
• How immigration crackdowns are tightening the construction labor market (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/19/how-ice-crack…)
• Candidates campaign for AI attention (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/19/candidates-ca…)
• Home-based coffee shops provide unique perks for owners and customers (marketplace.org/story/2026/10/19/microbusiness…)