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.
In Wednesday's business headlines, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is due in court to defend the company's takeover of Activision Blizzard and United Airlines is under fire over its recent cancellations with CEO Scott Kirby blaming the FAA for the disruptions. Meanwhile, a judge approved Overstock's purchase of Bed Bath & Beyond assets.