Ventura County

The low level of consumer financial literacy and high levels of consumer debt are attracting much recent attention. Some shocking statistics include:

	Total US consumer debt (which includes installment debt, but not mortgage debt) reached $2.46 Trillion in June 2007, up from $2.398 Trillion at the end of 2006 (Source: Federal Reserve)
	Total US consumer revolving debt reached $904 Billion in June 2007, up from $879 billion at the end of 2006. (Source: Federal Reserve)
	Approximately 14 percent of Americans use 50 percent or more of their available credit, and this group carries an average of 6.6 credit cards. (Source: Center for Media Research)
	The average consumer's oldest obligation is 14 years old, indicating that he or she has been managing credit for some time. In fact, one out of four consumers had credit histories of 20 years or longer. Only one in 20 consumers had credit histories shorter than two years. (Source: myfico.com)
	Personal bankruptcies have doubled in the past decade. (Source: msn.com)
	Compared with other countries, the United States is not a nation of savers. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that America’s 2006 personal savings rate, as a percentage of disposable income, was a negative one percent--the lowest in the industrialized world. (Source: AG Edwards)

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) can help reporters adapt a national news story to a local level. We maintain a data base of clients who have expressed a willingness to talk with the media about credit, credit card use, personal finances, college debt, holiday debt, budgeting, or bankruptcies and more.

CCCS is the ONLY nonprofit, accredited, local credit counseling organization serving the central coast of California from Ventura County through Santa Clara County. We are dedicated to helping individuals and families solve credit and financial problems. If we can provide any information to you or your readers, we would be happy to help. You can reach our media representative at 805-383-7804, toll free at 1 (800) 540-2227 extension 804. or email joyt@gotdebt.org.