The collapse of an auto lender in Texas is a warning about the strains on lower-income Americans, said in the Financial Times . Tricolor Holdings, which specialized in loans to subprime borrowers, particularly undocumented Latino workers, broke down so suddenly its offices “look like they were evacuated in an emergency,” with Gatorade bottles still sitting on empty desks. The firm is also under investigation for irregularities in its car loans, “so its demise may not be a pure reflection of economic conditions.” But there are other signs of trouble at “the bottom rung of the U.S. income ladder.” The percentage of outstanding auto loans that have slipped into delinquency rose to 9.3% in August as costs and maintenance are pulling more borrowers underwater. Lower-income Americans will ty
Auto loans: Trouble in the subprime economy

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