THE ECONOMY & MAIN STREET • THE MIDDLE-CLASS SQUEEZE
The Fed is expected to raise rates this afternoon—the first hike since July 2023. But forget the press conference. Look at what’s already sitting on your statement. That 22.15% is the average APR Americans pay on credit card balances they carry month to month, straight from the Fed’s own G.19 report. In 2021, before the hiking cycle, it was 16.45%. Same card. Same balance. Same trip to the grocery store. On a $6,610 balance—the national average—that 5.7-point jump costs you an extra $377 a year in pure interest. And as of this afternoon… it’s going higher.
Major financial changes rarely arrive with a warning.
By the time the headlines finally confirm what is happening, the early movers are usually already positioned and protected. That is one reason gold is drawing renewed attention from retirement savers, conservative investors, and anyone worried about the future value of the dollar. This free report explains what smart money tends to do quietly, well before uncertain markets force everyone else to finally react.
P.S. The goal is not panic, it is preparation. Understanding how gold has historically reacted during past economic transitions may help you make calmer, smarter decisions ahead. The guide is free, so please request it today.
Your mortgage is fixed and your car loan is locked—but your credit card rate moves the moment the Fed does, and by your next statement, today’s hike will already be on it.
