Consumers increasingly seeking cheaper alternatives, bargains or avoiding items they deem too expensive
Effects likely to be focused on weaker, low-rated issuers
Defaults, delinquencies poised to rise for rate-sensitive borrowers
Germany, the leading European economy, remained in the dumps in the April-June quarter
Direct conflict joins slew of elections as ongoing threats to credit
Report comes amid upheaval in retail landscape
Weak consumer demand, reduced gov't spending are dragging on growth in China: economists
In June, monthly filings returned to pandemic heights
U.S. corporates' interest coverage continued decline in Q1
Weaker labour market, still-high interest rates and dwindling savings to crimp consumer spending