Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser says low-income consumers have turned far more cautious with spending

Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser says low-income consumers have turned far more cautious with spending

Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said Monday that consumer behavior has diverged as inflation for goods and services makes life harder for many Americans.

Fraser, who leads one of the largest U.S. credit-card issuers, said she is seeing a “K-shaped consumer.” That means the affluent continue to spend, while lower-income Americans have become more cautious with their consumption.

“A lot of the growth in spending has been in the last few quarters with the affluent customer,” Fraser told CNBC’s Sara Eisen in an interview.

“We’re seeing a much more cautious low-income consumer,” Fraser said. “They’re feeling more of the pressure of the cost of living, which has been high and increased for them. So while there is employment for them, debt servicing levels are higher than they were before.”

The stock market has hinged on a single question this year: When will the Federal Reserve begin to ease interest rates after a run of 11 hikes? Strong employment figures and persistent inflation in some categories has complicated the picture, pushing back expectations for when easing will begin. That means Americans must live with higher rates for credit card debt, auto loans and mortgages for longer.

“I think, like everyone here, we’re hoping to see the economic conditions that will allow rates to come down sooner rather than later,” Fraser said.

“It’s hard to get a soft landing,” the CEO added, using a term for when higher rates reduce inflation without triggering an economic recession. “We’re hopeful, but it is always hard to get one.”

Watch CNBC's full interview with Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/06/citigroup-ceo-jane-fraser-says-low-income-consumers-are-more-cautious.html

Meet Jaydon Hermann, the driving force behind Business Press Daily. As our Editor-in-Chief, Jaydon is dedicated to delivering the latest and most insightful news in the business world. With a passion for uncovering stories that matter, Jaydon leads our team in providing you with the most up-to-date and informative newsroom experience.