Debt reaches more than 60% of households
About 78% of 18,000 interviewees pointed out the credit card as the main debt burden.
After two consecutive months of decline in the monthly comparison, the Brazilian debt levels increased again in December reaching 61.1% of households—0.1 percentage points higher than the 61% debt level recorded in November and 1.8 percentage point higher than in November last year.
The information is a result of the survey from the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), released today (Dec. 22).
According to the CNC, despite the favorable seasonal factors, like the Christmas bonus, all survey items have risen, increasing the proportion of household that reported debts with post-dated checkes and overdraft, credit cards, payment books of stores, personal loan, and car and insurance financing provision.
According to CNC Economist Marianne Hansen, indicators of debt and delinquency have worsened despite the retraction in consumption. "We observed a decline in households' consumption indicators, especially concerning durable goods, but rising interest rates and lower employment rate and consumers' real income have worsened debt and delinquency indicators," she declared.
In the monthly comparison, debt increased only in the household group with income above ten minimum wages (the minimum wage is $198.00). Within this income range, 56% are burdened with debt—up 1.4 percentage points when compared with November. Among household whithin the range below ten minimum wages, the percentage showed a slight decrease, from 62.3% in November to 62.2% in December.
The survey also found that the ratio of households with overdue bills or debts reached, in the past few months of the year, the highest level since July 2012: 23.2%. In November the percentage stood at 22.7%, and in December 2014, 18.5%.
Credit card
Data from a study entitled Survey on Consumers’ Indebtedness and Default (Peic) indicate that 78.3% of 18,000 interviewees in all state capitals and the Federal District pointed out the credit card as the main debt burden.
On average, households delay 62.5 days to pay off any kind of bill or debt, compromising their income for 6.9 months. A ratio of 26.5% of these households claimed to have more than half the monthly income compromised on debt payments.
Another negative fact: the ratio of households that reported not being able to pay their bills or debts and, therefore, remaining in deliquency, increased from 8.5% in November to 8.7% in December, also a rise when compared with the 5.8% recorded in December 2014.
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: Debt reaches more than 60% of households
