HIGH-INCOME AMERICANS START FALLING BEHIND ON PAYMENTS Financial stress is spreading beyond low-income households, with higher earners now struggling to keep up with debt. Credit-counseling agencies report that the average client earns $70,000 a year and carries $35,000 in unsecured debt—double the pre-pandemic ratio. More borrowers are missing payments even on structured repayment plans, pushing the NFCC’s financial stress gauge to record highs. Federal data show U.S. household delinquencies at 4.8%, the highest since 2017, with serious credit-card and auto loan delinquencies near post-2009 levels. Counselors warn that many households rely on revolving credit as a lifeline, masking deeper financial fragility. When buffers run out, stress spikes sharply.(*Walter Bloomberg)