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A record 7 million Americans are 3 months behind on their car payments, a red flag for the economy

February 12, 2019 at 1:01 p.m. EST
Evening commuters in Alexandria, VA. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

A record 7 million Americans are 90 days or more behind on their auto loan payments, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Tuesday, even more than during the wake of the financial crisis.

Economists warn that this is a red flag. Despite the strong economy and low unemployment rate, many Americans are struggling to pay their bills.