San Diego, CA
Credit card debt is soaring, especially in this San Diego-area city
(NEXSTAR) – Americans are falling behind on their credit card payments at a level not seen in more than a decade amid high interest rates and persistent inflation, but some cities have far higher average debts than others, a study found.
Four of the five cities with the highest average household credit card debt are located in California, a study by finance site WalletHub found. One of those cities is located in San Diego County.
According to this data, Chula Vista has an average household credit card debt of $20,920, with total credit card debt adding up to $1,737,924,020.
Using data from the Census Bureau, TransUnion and the Federal Reserve, the study’s authors looked at inflation-adjusted household debt in the country’s largest 181 cities found Santa Clarita, California to have the highest average household credit card debt ($21,836), followed by Chula Vista, CA ($20,920), New York, NY ($19,207), Fontana, CA ($18,843) and Rancho Cucamonga, CA ($18,549).
| Rank* | City | Household Credit Card Debt | Total Credit Card Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clarita, CA | $21,836 | $1,601,940,835 |
| 2 | Chula Vista, CA | $20,920 | $1,737,924,020 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $19,207 | $63,051,659,994 |
| 4 | Fontana, CA | $18,843 | $1,052,484,026 |
| 5 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $18,549 | $1,067,576,023 |
| 6 | Pearl City, HI | $18,525 | $277,629,365 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $18,094 | $1,638,261,858 |
| 8 | Oxnard, CA | $18,068 | $923,256,732 |
| 9 | Chesapeake, VA | $17,993 | $1,644,029,202 |
| 10 | Pembroke Pines, FL | $17,896 | $1,124,017,882 |
| 11 | Moreno Valley, CA | $17,847 | $962,997,139 |
| 12 | Scottsdale, AZ | $17,502 | $2,027,197,821 |
| 13 | Santa Ana, CA | $17,500 | $1,357,153,414 |
| 14 | Plano, TX | $17,410 | $1,870,634,960 |
| 15 | Gilbert, AZ | $17,305 | $1,562,646,307 |
| 16 | Glendale, CA | $17,304 | $1,264,996,463 |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $17,013 | $2,120,265,216 |
| 18 | Virginia Beach, VA | $16,947 | $3,031,986,253 |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $16,873 | $23,612,096,710 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach, CA | $16,767 | $1,301,835,881 |
For the full ranking of the 181 largest cities, see the WalletHub study.
“Some of the cities where households owe the most credit card debt, like Santa Clarita and Chula Vista, CA, have high median incomes, high debt payoff rates and low delinquency rates; this indicates that residents may simply have high credit card limits and can afford to borrow more,” according to Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst. “Other cities, like New York, have high average credit card debts driven more by financial struggles, which we can see in the number of people who are in financial distress or who are delinquent on their debt.”
What’s behind the debt?
For many American families, it’s likely a combination of factors.
With the Federal Reserve raising its key interest rate to fight nagging inflation, the interest rate on new credit cards has also jumped higher. As of Thursday, the average APR was 24.80%, according to LendingTree.
Tavares said that the number of bills that have become delinquent is now higher than it was before the pandemic, adding that renters appear to be especially vulnerable.
“Younger and less affluent people are experiencing challenges,” Silvio Tavares, CEO of VantageScore, a credit score modeling and analytics company, told the Associated Press. “And high interest rates are having an effect.”
Along with high interest rates and inflation driving up the cost of everyday goods, Americans can no longer rely on some of the pandemic-era stimulus instruments, such as payments, the child tax credit and increased unemployment benefits that boosted household finances.
While not every person with a rolling credit card debt is delinquent, many Americans are increasingly at-risk of not making payments, according to Bruce McClary, senior vice president at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
There’s likely a large group of consumers paying minimum balances and staying out of delinquency for now but who are too financially stressed to pay their balances in full, McClary said. A worsening of the economy could push those consumers into severe delinquency.
For those people working to get out of debt, McClary recommends calling credit card companies to negotiate interest rates, fees and long-term payment plans.
“The best thing to do is to reach out, give an honest assessment of your ability to pay over time, and ask what options are available to you both ‘on and off-the-menu,’” McClary said. This kind of phrasing can give creditors an opening to offer more flexibility, he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
San Diego, CA
EXCLUSIVE: Ignition Press Welcomes eBay Live & Revenge Of to San Diego Comic-Con Ignition Pavilion
The Ignition Press – Ignition Pavilion is leveling up in a big way for San Diego Comic-Con this year.
Following last year’s successful debut, Ignition Press is expanding its offsite with several major new partners, transforming the Ignition Pavilion into a hub for comics, collectibles, livestream shopping, food, and drinks. The free experience at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center (200 Harbor Dr.) will now feature activations from eBay Live and Revenge Of, alongside the return of Seven Seas Roasting Company and several new fan experiences.
One of the biggest additions this year is a dedicated eBay Live selling lounge, where livestreams will broadcast throughout the convention, bringing Comic-Con to fans around the world.
Stop by throughout the week to find live sketches and signings with comic legends Bill Sienkiewicz (hosted by Big Clutch) and Jim Lee (hosted by ANZ Collects), while Storage Wars star Rene Nezhoda will showcase a rare PSA-pedigreed collection of vintage, Silver Age, and Bronze Age comics.
Fans can also tune in for the debut of an exclusive DC x eBay Live Absolute Batman & Absolute Catwoman connecting cover, shop signed Ignition Press SDCC exclusives, rare comics, and other collectibles, and catch appearances from fan-favorite creators and influencers throughout the weekend.
The Pavilion also welcomes Los Angeles lifestyle brand Revenge Of, making its San Diego Comic-Con debut with a curated comics and pop culture experience, while its sister company, FTB.Design, is handling the Pavilion’s production design.
“Both eBay Live and Revenge Of TV are going to give both fans onsite and at home the opportunity to get in on special programming and chances to get SDCC exclusive merchandise,” said Creative Director Jeremy Haun. “We’re doing something new, big, and different here at the Ignition Pavilion. You’re not going to want to miss it.”
Coffee lovers can once again grab a free drink from Seven Seas Roasting Company between 12pm-4pm, Thursday through Sunday, by signing up for the Ignition Insiders newsletter. The first 200 fans each day can redeem a voucher for coffee, espresso drinks, chai, or tea.
Later each afternoon (Thursday-Saturday, 5pm-7pm), the coffee bar transforms into the Ignition Pavilion Happy Hour, serving themed cocktails, beer, wine, mocktails, and complimentary drink tickets with qualifying purchases. Fans can also preorder a limited-edition bottle of Ignition Proof Rum, created in partnership with Los Angeles distillery The Obscure.
The Ignition Pavilion is free and open to the public at the following times:
- Wednesday, July 22: 5:00pm-9:00pm
- Thursday, July 23: 12:00pm-8:00pm
- Friday, July 24: 12:00pm-8:00pm
- Saturday, July 25: 12:00pm-8:00pm
- Sunday, July 26: 12:00pm-6:00pm
Karepango, the colorful and unapologetic brand that aims to bring a smile in the most unexpected time, is coming to Comic-Con to spread joy, and give attendees the chance to show the world they are imperfect, yet still proud.
Find them at booth #5034, located in the Hall G area of the convention center, and will have dozens of their classic bestsellers, recent products and even a brand new exclusive (and very limited) shirt.
All purchases will receive free gifts, with an extra special gift for purchases over $100.
All clothing is available in sizes XS through 2XL, but in limited quantities per size.
Let’s get shopping:
Have A Good Day Shirts – $48
Limited to 75 pieces
Purple or brown with front and back printing
100% Cotton Knit Sweaters – $88
Oversized and pre-shrunk
100% Cotton T-Shirts – $48
Various Designs
Oversized and pre-shrunk
Tote Bags, Plush Bags, Puffy Bags, IRO Bags, All Sorts of Bags – $28-$45
Various designs
Drink Holders, Mesh Pouches, Nylon Pouches, Headbands, Blind Box Toys, Plush Trinkets – $15-$25
Various designs
Caps, Bucket Hats, Plush Hats, Beanies – $28-$30
Various designs
Bags, Plush, Rugs, Scarves – $50-$80
Various designs
Stickers, Socks, Pins, Air Fresheners – $4-$15
Various designs
Seek and ye shall find:
Travel back more than 250 million years with PBS Eons during a special San Diego Comic-Con preview screening of Eons: Life and Death on Pangea before the series officially premieres.
On Saturday, July 25 at 10am, attendees can watch the first episode of the new four-part miniseries, which explores the Permian Period and the “Great Dying,” Earth’s largest known mass extinction event that wiped out more than 80% of all species.
Following the screening, hosts Gabriel-Philip Santos and Michelle Barboza-Ramirez, along with series writer Farhan Mitha, will take fans behind the scenes of the production and stick around for a Q&A about bringing this prehistoric world to life.
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