A new PYMNTS survey finds many people who pay bills on time are less sure they can handle their debt, a possible early warning before payments slip.
Paying bills on time does not always mean feeling secure. A PYMNTS Intelligence survey of 2,087 US consumers, taken in October, found that people living paycheck to paycheck without trouble paying bills are growing less confident about managing their debt. Still, 61.1% of this group say they remain confident.
About 4 in 10 consumers fall into this group. They cover their bills, but with little room to spare. The report says banks could use this shift to spot financial pressure before customers fall behind.
The wider picture is mixed. PYMNTS' Consumer Expectations Index edged up to 54.2 from 54.1 in September. A reading above 50 is neutral or better. More people expect the national economy to improve over the next year: 30.2%, up from 26.4%. Job worries, however, increased.
Spending caution is also growing. 20% of consumers delayed a major purchase in the past 90 days, up from 18.3% in August. For merchants, better expectations may help, but prices remain the leading reason shoppers hold back.
The excerpt does not say how far debt confidence fell, or how it compares with earlier months. The full report sits behind a sign-up form, so those details are not covered here.
If you stretch each paycheck, a quiet check of your debt now may help you spot strain before a bill slips.
Paying bills on time can hide strain, so review your debt now rather than waiting for a missed payment.
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