Car debt is piling up for consumers, according to a Bloomberg News report. The outlet found that the amount of negative equity, or the amount that debt surpasses a vehicle's value, is building up. This has led many car owners to show up at lots underwater, which is also known as "upside down," as they try to trade in their debt-burdened cars. The situation has emerged against a backdrop of rising interest rates, with the average new-car interest rate hitting 6.9 percent in January, up from 4.3 percent a year earlier, according to Edmunds.
Inflation is outrunning growth, squeezing consumers and raising fear of a summer slowdown as high rates and sticky prices test spending and markets today now.
TIME's editorial director Emma Barker unpacks the 2026 100 Most Influential Companies list, spotlighting trends, AI impact, surprises, and leadership shifts.
From dire wolves to new species targets, scientists at Colossal Biosciences are using gene editing to revive extinction and reshape biodiversity as we know it.
R.J. Hottovy, Head of Analytical Research at Placer.ai, breaks down restaurant trends, pricing power, and which chains are winning this earnings season.
