Eurodollar University This Is the Scariest Consumer Data I’ve Ever Seen
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Dec 8, 2025 In this engaging conversation, guest Steve Van Meter, a savvy commentator on economic trends, examines alarming signs in the labor market and rising stress among small businesses. They discuss how dropping car insurance claims reveal deeper affordability issues, not fewer accidents. Consumers resort to cutting insurance to avoid devastating losses. Additionally, record declines in holiday spending signal a troubling economic outlook, as middle-income workers and small firms bear the brunt of the downturn's impact.
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Affordability Crisis Driven By Jobs And Income
- Americans are cutting essentials like car insurance because incomes and jobs are insufficient, not because accidents fell.
- This reflects widespread affordability breakdowns that signal deeper labor-market weakness.
Subprime Borrowers Sacrifice Insurance First
- Steve Van Meter notes many subprime borrowers stop paying insurance because they expect to lose their cars.
- He describes borrowers choosing to forgo insurance as a survival move against larger financial losses.
Collision Claims Fall While Driving Rises
- CCC data show 8.5% fewer claims despite more miles driven, implying roughly 4% of policies lack any coverage.
- That degree of uninsured or downgraded coverage signals acute household financial distress.