Americans Paid a Whopping $130 Billion in Interest and Fees on Credit Cards in 2022 – What It Means for Online Success in 2024

In a concerning revelation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has released a report demonstrating an unprecedented surge in costs for credit card users in 2022.

The biennial review, a mandate under the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act), indicates that consumers were charged a monumental $130 billion in interest and fees last year, bringing the outstanding credit card debt to over $1 trillion for the first time in history.

CFPB Director Rohit Chopra expressed concern, stating, “Last year, Americans paid $130 billion in interest and fees on their credit cards.”

He emphasized the bureau’s commitment to addressing deceptive practices and promoting refinancing opportunities for consumers to secure lower rates.

The report underscores several alarming trends, including persistent high profits for credit card companies, suggesting a potential lack of market competition.

In a notable finding, the profits for general-purpose cards climbed to 5.9% in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic figures.

Additionally, annual percentage rates (APRs) persist in rising, further disconnecting from standard benchmarks like the federal funds target rate.

Consumers are bearing the brunt of these trends, with the CFPB highlighting an alarming $105 billion in interest charges and an additional $25 billion in fees during 2022.

Particularly striking is that cardholders who carried balances paid roughly 20 percent of their average balance in interest and fees annually.

This financial strain is significantly higher for those with subprime scores, who often paid 30 to 40 cents per dollar borrowed.

Further compounding the financial pressure on consumers is the resurgence of late fee charges, which soared to $14.5 billion, reverting to pre-pandemic levels.

The report ties this rise to the cessation of pandemic relief aids in 2021, leading to increased delinquency rates.

The CFPB’s report also sheds light on the troubling “persistent debt” phenomenon, where a segment of users incurs more in fees and interest annually than they repay on their principal.

With the termination of pandemic relief programs, there is an apprehension that this trend may aggravate if the interest rates sustain their high levels.

In a somewhat paradoxical development, the report notes that consumers with revolving balances frequently find themselves in a rewards deficit, shouldering the majority of interest and fees while reaping minimal rewards benefits.

This imbalance underscores the potential pitfalls of rewards programs for those who carry debt monthly.

On the technological front, the shift towards digital management of credit accounts continues to gain traction, with a substantial majority of cardholders now utilizing mobile apps for their account management.

Concurrently, digital communication methods, including text messaging and emails, are becoming increasingly prevalent for credit companies and debt collectors in contacting borrowers, possibly signaling a transformative change in the dynamics of lender-borrower communication.

In response to these findings, the CFPB emphasizes its commitment to introducing protective measures, as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the financial burden on consumers and ensure fairer credit practices.

But this will be a hard and long challenge to bring meaningful relief to consumers.

Rising Credit Card Debt – Outlook on Online Sellers

As we head into the peak shopping season, and absent a miraculous intervention by Congress, the CFBS’s report reveals a potentially troubling financial outlook for consumers over the next few years.

With credit card users facing even higher debt loads and the enormous amount of interest and fees to service this debt, many consumers will not see much hope in their financial situation.

Online sellers may need to prepare for a re-evaluation of spending habits with shoppers potentially curbing discretionary purchases, as sky-high APRs will continue to impact consumers.

While Wall Street believes the Fed funds rate will decline by the end of 2024, it will likely be a mild adjustment downward. However, with the CFPB warning about the growing disconnect between credit card APRs and the Fed funds rate, consumers are facing a growing financial crisis.

The situation spells caution for various market sectors.

Consumers, grappling with the repercussions of continued high debt load fees (interest and other charges) and the deceptive imbalance of rewards programs, may inevitably force many to tighten their belts.

This behavioral shift could position sellers of essential goods and second-hand items at an advantage, as financially strained buyers seek cost-effective purchasing alternatives.

The critical lesson is clear: Escalating debt load and associated costs demand prudent financial strategies from consumers.

And since shoppers rely on ecommerce today to find bargains, the bleak financial outlook for consumers requires sellers to potentially recalibrate their inventories and product categories heading into 2024 to maintain online sales growth (or survival).

Richard Meldner

Richard is co-founder of eSeller365. He has over 17 years of experience on eBay which includes tens of thousands of sales to buyers in over 100 countries and even has experience with eBay’s VeRO program enforcing intellectual property rights for a former employer. And for about two years Richard sold products on Amazon using Amazon FBA in the US.

To “relax” from the daily business grind, for a few weekends a year, he also works for IMSA as a professional race official.