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Report: 10% credit card cap could cut off 64 million Americans, risk recession
The report says the cap could close or reduce limits on about 30% of accounts and cut up to $714 billion in economic output.
A new report from nonprofit Unleash Prosperity warns that the proposed "10 Percent Credit Card Interest Rate Cap Act" could restrict credit access for at least 64 million Americans.
Introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the legislation would impose a five-year ceiling on credit card APRs and penalize lenders exceeding the limit, introducing sweeping price controls.
The analysis estimates that about 30% of credit card accounts could be closed or have reduced limits, resulting in as much as $714 billion in lost gross domestic product.
Co-Founder Steve Moore told The Center Square that reduced credit availability could harm travel-dependent sectors like airlines and hotels, while pushing borrowers toward high-cost payday loans.
Titled "Interest Rate Caps Would Dramatically Lower Consumer Credit and Risk Recession," the study argues that capping rates prevents lenders from pricing risk, potentially triggering broader economic distortions.