Jesse Wolf Hardin

Both before and during each Market Pulse webinar, our audience submits their burning questions to our expert panelists. For our June Market Pulse webinar, our panel included Dr. Amy Crews Cutts, President and Chief Economist of AC Cutts and Associates, and Ian Wright, Chief Strategy Officer, IXI, at Equifax. Below are their answers on questions around national debt, potential regulatory changes, and the possible impact of AI on jobs.

Gen X exhibits a pronounced K-shaped split in financial stability, with the lowest stability tier growing by 11% while top-tier households expand, necessitating more granular, data-driven risk management strategies. Gen X maintains a significant consumer credit presence by distributing auto loan originations evenly across captive lenders, banks, and credit unions, creating diverse opportunities for financial institutions to capture their business.

Home Business Insights Blog May 2026 Consumer Pulse: The Latest Consumer Credit Trends U.S. consumer debt reached $18.2 trillion due to strong year-over-year originations in auto, personal loans, bankcards, and mortgages, but a monthly contraction in revolving credit suggests households are actively managing day-to-day spending pressures.