The average American's perception of the economy is based on their personal financial struggles. Despite the mainstream definition of a healthy economy as growing revenue or production, individuals gauge the economy by their income and spending capacity. The increase in personal debt and credit card interest rates reflects a negative trend in income to spending ratio. The reliance on borrowing rather than earnings to improve living standards has led to a situation where economic growth is fueled by debt, resulting in a false impression of a healthy economy. The spike in interest rates and inflation is causing further financial strain, indicating that the previous borrowing-driven growth model is unsustainable.