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The Score
Join Jeff Richardson he hosts VantageScore’s newly recast podcast, THE SCORE podcast, for the lending community. Each week he and his guests—journalists, academics, researchers, and others in the know—explore concepts important to lenders like you. Tune in and learn what you need to know to tap new credit-worthy borrowers to grow your portfolio—while supporting financial equality and inclusion.
The Score
Are Consumers Confident in 2024?
Recent news headlines indicate that consumers shopped big this past holiday season, and retail numbers, on the surface, appeared to be up. But given notable economic pressures like record-high inflation, how much of that was just paying ‘more’ for ‘less’? And how can consumers make sure they’re getting the best possible deal when using credit?
This week’s guest on The SCORE is Matt Schulz, Chief Credit Analyst at Lending Tree, America’s largest marketplace for loans. Matt joins The SCORE to explain common mistakes consumers make when rate shopping as well as reasons why he thinks “people have more power over their money than they realize.” He also explores how the rise of buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services will continue to transform consumer finance, why credit usage reflects consumer sentiment, and how credit card lenders will continue to compete in the new lending marketplace.
Listen to the episode here.