Uber Bookings Miss Estimates, TikTok Lawsuit, Intel Revenue
May 8, 2024
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Bloomberg Intelligence analysts discuss Uber, Lyft, Reddit earnings, Apple stock decline, TikTok ban impact on Intel revenue. Reporters uncover 'Phantom Debt' risks. Insights on China-US chip sales, Apple-Google AI partnership, Shopify e-commerce integration, legal battles with Chinese app, and tech industry market share strategies.
Buy Now, Pay Later services offer attractive zero interest rates but can lead to financial difficulties with late fees and multiple payments.
Phantom debt related to Buy Now, Pay Later services remains untracked, posing challenges in assessing true consumer debt levels and economic impact.
Deep dives
The Rise of Buy Now, Pay Later Services
Buy Now, Pay Later services have gained popularity, especially during the pandemic, allowing consumers to split purchases into four installment payments over six weeks, with the first payment due at checkout. These services usually offer zero interest rates, making it an attractive option for consumers. However, late fees and challenges in managing multiple payments from different providers can lead to financial difficulties.
Phantom Debt in the Economy
There is an estimated $46 billion of phantom debt termed as related to Buy Now, Pay Later services, which remains largely untracked due to regulatory loopholes. This phantom debt poses challenges in assessing the actual consumer debt levels and impact on economic outlooks. Loan stacking and late fees can contribute to consumers falling into debt or facing credit score hits.
Regulatory Concerns and Lack of Data Reporting
Currently, Buy Now, Pay Later providers are not obliged to report consumer data to credit bureaus, creating a lack of transparency in understanding the full extent of consumer debt. While regulators like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and OCC have hinted at potential regulations, no substantial new rules have been implemented yet, leaving the industry relatively unregulated.
Consumer Usage and Economic Implications
Buy Now, Pay Later services were initially used for discretionary purchases like clothing and electronics, but as inflation rises, consumers are increasingly using them for necessities like groceries. The hidden phantom debt poses economic risks and uncertainties, influencing how Wall Street traders and economists assess consumer debt levels and economic forecasts.
Mandeep Singh, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Tech Industry Analyst, discusses earnings from Uber, Lyft, and Reddit. Anurag Rana, Bloomberg Intelligence Technology Analyst, discusses Apple's iPhone shipments. Matthew Schettenhelm, Bloomberg Intelligence Media Litigation Analyst, talks about the latest on a potential TikTok ban in the U.S. Michael Shepard, Bloomberg News Senior Editor, talks about Intel seeing revenue falling as a result of a new US ban on chip exports to Huawei Technologies. Paulina Cachero, Bloomberg Personal Finance Reporter, and Paige Smith, Bloomberg Consumer Finance Reporter, discuss their Bloomberg Big Take story: “Americans Are Racking Up ‘Phantom Debt’ Wall Street Can’t Track.”