China
Hong Kong's stock market ended lower on Thursday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index down 0.08 percent to close at 24,498.95 points.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 0.09 percent to end at 8,853.1 points, and the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 0.56 percent to end at 5,448.85 points.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closes 0.08 pct lower
As much as 37 percent of Americans saw their debt increase during this year's holiday shopping season, with average debt rising to 1,223 U.S. dollars from 1,181 dollars last year, according to the latest holiday debt survey of LendingTree, the nation's online loan marketplace.
The survey, conducted earlier this month among more than 2,000 U.S. consumers, found that rising tariffs and higher prices have put additional pressure on household budgets.
In a statement, LendingTree's chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz said the strain becomes more pronounced during the holiday season, as many consumers are reluctant to change long-standing shopping traditions, even as costs rise, leading to higher debt levels.
According to the survey, 63 percent of borrowers expect it will take three months or longer to repay their holiday-related debt, while about 41 percent said they are still paying off debt from last year. Schulz warned that if borrowers need six months to a year or more to repay their balances, the situation becomes more serious due to high credit card interest rates.
Data from Bankrate show that the average U.S. credit card interest rate currently exceeds 20 percent.
Meanwhile, U.S. consumers have grown increasingly pessimistic about their financial situation. Data released on Tuesday by The Conference Board showed that the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index fell for the fifth consecutive month in December, dropping to 89.1, the lowest level since April, amid deepening anxiety over jobs and income.
Over one-third of Americans rack up holiday debt: survey
