The low interest for years has made people far too willing to just pay it back over years. Credit, credit, credit. Who cares, you can afford it!
Now the interest rates are up again, nobody has any fucking money to buy anything. The billionaires have stolen your wallet, and are now holding out the begging bowl for more so their precious lines can go up.
Hopefully this will be the end of supersized SUVs everywhere.
I buy cars in cash. I have purchased a single vehicle in my life with credit and that was paid back in 3 years, it was solely because my then 8 months pregnant wife and me broke down in our old car. Still have that car, 15 years old Honda Civic trying for 30 years on it.
I bought my last three cars with 0% interest deals over six years. Brand new cars (last year's model), good price, dealer's trying to just make room for new inventory. With low payment I was able to invest extra money. Why spend cash you don't have to? If someone offers low interest on something you need, it's a no-brainer.
Subaru offers deals on their last year's models all the time. I drive a 2018 Subaru Legacy, and before that a 2013 WRX, both had 0% interest financing. I paid about $250 a month over 60 months on my last car. You know how I get that? Because I build my credit by not paying cash for everything. When I bought furniture for my home, I opened a credit card with the furniture company because they offered 18 months no interest. It's always a no-brainer (if the price of goods is right).
And I know interest rates are crazy now, but Subaru is currently (or was in the last month or so) offering 0% financing on their cars again. If you're in the market for a new car and can stomach the ridiculous cost of everything these days, getting 0% makes it much easier. Just makes sense.
It's just a bit of a kick in the bollocks when the wealth has to trickle down, but the poverty somehow has to trickle up. And neither are trickling very fast.
No disagreement from me there. Frankly, we're lucky it wasn't bad enough to kick off a real depression. A worldwide depression right now would be a very, very different place. Idk how we'd begin to climb out without war, and wouldn't ya know it there's a few good global Cassus Belli floating around.
It's ugly though, for sure. Inshallah, the worst bits are over and we come out ahead. Sounds like you're UK(?)/Aus, but I hope worker pay is rising there the way it is here in the US.