America runs on credit. Essentially, an array of loans allows consumers to buy cars, homes, household appliances, clothes you name it. And businesses use credit to buy inventory, build new structures and even make payroll.

Surrounded by Ruins, Mortgage Market Remains Intact (Washington Post)
Everybody knows how severe and painful the global financial breakdown has been, with banks unwilling to lend even to other banks. But what about mortgages and real estate? Can you still get a home loan with less than 20 percent or 30 percent down? Or with a credit score below 720?

Street Talk: A sample of investment advisory newsletters (The Kansas City Star)
If you do anything that decreases your credit score, this can signal that you are a higher credit risk to the (credit card) issuer. When you increase your risk factor, issuers are now more likely and quicker to increase your annual percentage rate.

Getting mortgage easier than some other credit (San Francisco Chronicle)
Credit squeeze, credit freeze, credit system seizures: Everybody knows how severe and painful the global financial breakdown has been - with banks unwilling to lend even to other banks. But what about mortgages and real estate? Can you still get a home loan…

• Related Articles
  • How to Legally Remove A Judgment From Your Credit Report
  • Credit card help credit score
  • Todd Ossenfort: Patience is key when trying to repair credit score (Arizona Daily Star)
  • How Important Is Credit Risk Ratio?
  • Credit crisis quite painful for some institutional investors: Greenwich (Investment Executive)