Friday 8/5/11 marked the first time ever that U.S. debt was downgraded. After giving several warnings, S&P downgraded the U.S. from AAA to AA+. On the surface this doesn’t seem like a big deal, after all, it is the second highest rating that a debt can be rated at and few other state and local governments in U.S. as well as other counties have AA+ debt.
This downgrade is going to have a large fallout and it isn’t going to just be in the stock market when you turn on the news. It is going to affect the everyday lives of U.S. citizens, including more locally residents of Georgia. The ability to have confidence in the U.S.’s ability to repay its debts is critical because it is tied to the interest rates that we pay. Due to this downgrade the price that we pay for goods and services can increase. Access to credit can become tougher and more expense and jobs could be lost. All of these factors point to a potential bankruptcy spike for residents of Georgia.
It is too soon to understand how the S&P downgrade will fully affect Georgia residents. In the coming weeks it will become more clear. Should the economy get worse because of this news, it is likely that research for legal advice on Atlanta Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings and Atlanta Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings will continue to increase. Berry & Associates will continue to monitor the S&P downgrade and the effect on bankruptcy.












