The number of households with debts and overdue bills (delinquency) increased 8.4% in 2015, compared with 2014 
The number of households with debts and overdue bills (delinquency) increased 8.4% in 2015, compared with 2014, reaching 20.9%, as the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services, and Tourism (CNC) has announced today (Jan. 22).
For the first time since 2010, the beginning of CNC's study entitled Survey of Consumer Debt and Default (PEIC), they have reported a higher number of households in arrears. The number of households that acknowledge not having the resources to pay their bills also rose (23.2%), and reached 7.7% of the total. In absolute numbers, more than 1.1 million families were faced with this situation in 2015, compared with 899,000 in 2014.
Debt/ income
However, the average number of households with debts was down 1.3%, and the CNC explains it by the unfavorable factors for consumption, like rising inflation and labor market's slowdown.
The survey also points out that the Brazilian households' income are more compromised with debt payment. The average percentage rose from 30.4% to 30.6%—the highest rate since the historical series began in 2010. Increased interest rates on credit cards have compromised more their income, which fell in real values last year.
At least 12.4% of households considered themselves heavily in debt in 2015, compared with 11.6% in 2014. The share of those who believed to be little in debt has fallen from 26.6% to 26.2%.
Households earning an income of up to ten minimum wages are more burdened with debt (62.4%) and percentages of households with overdue bills has also increased (23.4%), in addition to those who are unable to pay them (9%).
For families who earn more than ten minimum wages, indebtedness stood at 54.8%. Among them, 20.1% are in arrears and 2.8% declared they will not be able to pay off debts.
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: More households in arrears
