affordability

Over 12% of North Carolinians were living in poverty in 2024. However, a new report finds a much larger group in North Carolina still struggles to make ends meet. An additional 28% of the state’s households earn above the federal poverty threshold but not enough to afford basic expenses. We discuss the study and the affordability crisis impacting families.

In January, President Trump urged Congress to cap credit card interest rates at 10% and said Americans are being “ripped off” by credit card companies. Bankers quickly opposed the idea, with some calling it an economic disaster. There is also debate over capping credit card late fees. We look at the pros and cons of these proposals and whether any of them would lead to more affordability.