Ryan Mather is a research associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Student debt generally grew faster in the U.S. and Eighth District than any other debt category.
Experts who practice the “dismal science” share how economics might impact joy.
Since 2015, households in the poorest ZIP codes appear to have become more financially vulnerable.
Consumers keep borrowing, but delinquency rate data do not appear to signal a severe debt problem on the horizon.
Debt growth and delinquency rate data do not seem to indicate that a severe debt problem may be brewing in these cities.