Home equity credit line delinquencies hit high (USA Today)The troubled economy is leaving consumers with increasingly tough decisions about which debts to pay first, and in some cases, which to pay at all.

South Africa: Slowdown in Car Sales as Rates Pinch (AllAfrica.com)SALES of new vehicles in SA declined for the 15th successive month on an annual basis, decreasing 21,9% year on year to 39062 units last month.

As Economy Struggles, Debt Consolidation Helps Thousands (Richfield Reaper)(ARA) - Everywhere you look you see news about the "credit crunch" and the mortgage foreclosure crisis and, if you're like most Americans, you're feeling the pinch too.

Tacking inflation (FT.com via Yahoo! News) The newest anomaly in financial markets tops all others arising in recent months. Inflation fears are now reflected in expectations that US monetary policy will and should become more restrictive before the year is out. The ECB is about to go down this route and the Bank of England may also want to do so.

Credit crunch pushes fraud to record levels (Accountancy Age)'The combination of spiralling personal debt and desperate employees spells real danger for business.