Technology

56% of consumers say paying off short-term debt would take over six months, Achieve survey finds

Published

2 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Short-term debt is carrying a longer repayment horizon as consumers struggle to make ends meet without borrowing more or cutting back on basics

SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Over half of consumers (56%) said it would take them more than six months to repay all of their short-term, unsecured debts like credit cards, buy now, pay later loans, personal loans and medical debt, according to a new survey by Achieve, the leader in digital personal finance.

The June 2026 survey of 2,000 consumers was conducted by the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights think tank, and complements the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s upcoming Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit by providing qualitative insights into consumer borrowing and debt.

“Short-term debts often start off as a temporary stop-gap solution to household budget gaps. With elevated costs of living and compounding interest charges, these debts can quickly create sustained pressure on household balance sheets and budgets,” said Achieve Co-Founder and Co-CEO Brad Stroh. “When that happens, consumers are often unsure how to navigate their debt or where to turn for help. When consumers can’t see a clear path forward, it often erodes their confidence and expectations for the economy overall.”

Achieve’s survey also found 55% of consumers carry credit card balances to cover the rising cost of essential expenses, up slightly from 53% in the second quarter 2026 edition of the survey. During the third quarter, 27% of consumers said they have been carrying credit card balances for essential expenses for more than six months, compared to 25% during the second quarter.

Other consumer insights from the survey:

52% of respondents said they are comfortable using a credit card for essential expenses and not paying the balance off right away, while 48% said they are uncomfortable with this practice.29% of respondents said they have either “a bit more” or “far more” debt than is manageable, while 53% said they have a manageable amount of debt and 18% said they have no debt.33% of respondents said their total debt decreased during the past three months (compared to 38% last quarter), while 22% said their debt increased (unchanged from 2Q26) and 45% reported no change (compared to 40% in 2Q26).54% rated their current financial situation as “Poor” or “Fair.” Another 35% rated it as “Good,” and 11% gave an “Excellent” rating.

“Consumers commonly narrowly focus on whether they can make the next payment, but the total cost, liability drag and length of the repayment period matters too,” Stroh said. “Carrying the burden of debt for essential expenses can limit the room households retain to absorb additional unexpected costs or make meaningful progress on other financial priorities.”

Payment Pressure Mounts

Few respondents reported actually missing payments on their financial obligations over the past three months. Just 5% of respondents said their household was only able to pay “some” or “very few” of their monthly bills on time and 7% said most bills got paid on time. Meanwhile, 88% said they were able to meet all or “nearly all” of their monthly obligations.

But payment pressure affects consumers even when they remain current with the obligations. Achieve’s survey reveals the lengths many households must go to make ends meet, as 34% of 3Q26 survey respondents said it was “difficult” or “very difficult” to maintain on-time debt payments the past three months.

Among consumers who face difficulty paying monthly bills on time, 66% said their household doesn’t earn enough income to cover spending, while 31% point to owing money on too many different accounts and 22% said it’s challenging aligning pay day at their jobs with the due dates on their debts.

Tradeoffs to Make Ends Meet are Hitting Basic Needs, Healthcare

Approximately half of respondents resorted to one or more risky financial stopgaps after they fell short on what they already owed. Among these respondents, the most frequently cited steps included reducing spending on basic needs (50%), taking on more credit card debt (32%), borrowing from family and friends (28%) and dipping into their short-term savings (25%). In more dire situations, some respondents missed at least one debt payment (18%), while others said they had to delay or skip medical treatment (19%),and others skipped or reduced prescribed medication doses (11%).

“Many consumers are keeping up with bills, but that does not mean the debt is becoming easier to manage,” Stroh said. “That payment pressure quickly reaches core household needs and can even impact healthcare choices.”

Methodology

The data presented is from a June 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers ages 18 and older with an active account for one or more of the following categories of consumer debt: auto loan; major credit card with a minimum outstanding balance of $100; first-lien mortgage; home equity line of credit (HELOC); student loan; and other (unsecured personal loan, store-branded credit card, buy now, pay later loan, or closed-end home equity loan).

About the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights

The Achieve Center for Consumer Insights is a think tank that leverages Achieve’s team of digital personal finance experts to provide a view into the state of consumer finances. In addition to sharing insights gleaned from Achieve’s proprietary data and analytics, the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights publishes in-depth research, bespoke data and thoughtful commentary in support of Achieve’s mission of helping everyday people get on the path to a better financial future.

About Achieve

Achieve, THE digital personal finance company, helps everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a better financial future. Achieve pairs proprietary data and analytics with personalized support to offer personal loans, home equity loans, debt relief and debt consolidation, along with financial tips and education and free mobile apps: Achieve MoLO® (Money Left Over) and Achieve GOOD™ (Get Out Of Debt). Achieve is frequently recognized for providing top-rated customer experience and satisfaction by both consumers and leading personal finance review platforms and has 2,200 dedicated teammates across the country, with hubs in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.

Achieve refers to the global organization and may denote one or more affiliates of Achieve Company, including Achieve.com, Equal Housing Opportunity (NMLS ID #138464); Achieve Home Loans, Equal Housing Opportunity (NMLS ID #1810501); Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS ID #227977); Freedom Debt Relief (NMLS ID # 1248929); and Freedom Financial Asset Management (CRD #170229).

Contacts

Austin Kilgore
akilgore@achieve.com
214-908-5097

Elina Tarkazikis
etarkazikis@achieve.com

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SOURCE Achieve

Technology

5C Secures More Than USD $1.4 Billion to Power North America’s AI Infrastructure

Published

43 minutes ago

August 10, 2026

New USD $605 million Brookfield-led financing accelerates the development of Gigascale AI campuses across the continent.

MONTREAL, Aug. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — (version française) 5C Group, a developer, builder and operator of large-scale AI data center campuses, today announced the closing of USD $605 million in new debt financing led by Brookfield Asset Management. This follows the USD $835 million in equity and debt capital 5C raised in 2025 as well as additional capital that 5C raised prior to 2025. Combined, this capital is fueling 5C’s growth and expanding its AI infrastructure platform across North America.

5C delivers AI factories: large-scale, high-performance campuses where compute, power, cooling, networking, software, and operations are engineered together for performance, reliability, and scale. This integrated approach supports the increasingly dense and complex AI workloads while adapting to advances in GPU architecture, liquid cooling, rack-scale systems, and evolving AI deployment models.

The new capital will allow 5C to accelerate development across its portfolio of priority sites, fund the acquisition and construction of its Memphis campus, as well as support the development and expansion of its Ohio and Phoenix campuses, as they reach key commercial and investment milestones.

“This financing reflects strong confidence in 5C’s strategy and our ability to execute at scale,” said Jonathan Ahdoot, Chief Executive Officer of 5C. “It strengthens our ability to build next-generation AI infrastructure while investing for the long term in communities.”

“We are pleased to expand our partnership with 5C and support the continued growth of its AI infrastructure platform,” said Hamish Kidd, Managing Partner, Investments – Infrastructure, Brookfield Asset Management. “5C combines strong execution capabilities with a long-term approach to developing critical digital infrastructure, and we believe its North American campuses are well positioned to support growing demand for advanced AI capacity.”

About 5C
5C Group is one of North America’s largest AI digital infrastructure providers. The company delivers purpose-built infrastructure for AI with a network of state-of-the-art data centers. With over 1.5 gigawatts of roadmap capacity and the ability to power hundreds of thousands of GPUs, 5C Group delivers secure, reliable, and sustainable data center and AI infrastructure solutions at scale for the largest AI users with the most demanding workloads. For more information, please visit www.5c.ai.

About Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world — including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield’s heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles.

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SOURCE 5C Group

Technology

Viventium’s Apploi Hire ATS Earns Indeed’s 2026 Customer Excellence Award

Published

43 minutes ago

August 10, 2026

A recognition highlighting the impact of the integrated healthcare workforce solution in helping employers attract, hire and retain caregivers.

BERKLEY HEIGHTS, N.J., Aug. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Viventium’s Apploi Hire ATS has been awarded the Enterprise Customer Excellence Award at Indeed’s inaugural 2026 Partner Awards, a reflection of the commitment to helping healthcare employers improve hiring outcomes through innovative technology, customer support and industry expertise.

Viventium and Apploi have joined forces to help healthcare organizations hire, onboard, pay and retain employees through a seamless workforce management experience. Their unified platforms provide healthcare employers with specialized tools and expertise designed to address the industry’s unique hiring and workforce challenges.

The award recognizes organizations that go above and beyond in supporting mutual clients, driving hiring success and delivering outstanding customer experiences. Viventium and Apploi were selected by Indeed based on their partnership, innovation and measurable impact in helping employers connect with job seekers and reduce time-to-hire.

“This award reflects our shared commitment to helping healthcare organizations build and maintain exceptional care teams,” said Navin Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Viventium. “By combining Apploi’s healthcare-focused hiring technology with Viventium’s payroll, HR and compliance expertise, we’re able to deliver meaningful value that helps providers improve hiring outcomes while staying focused on delivering quality patient care.”

The award further underscores the impact of Viventium’s Apploi Hire ATS in helping healthcare employers navigate persistent workforce challenges while improving hiring efficiency and candidate engagement.

About Viventium + Apploi
Viventium + Apploi develops award-winning human capital management software for post-acute care organizations of every size, helping providers unlock efficiency and improve the caregiver experience. This hire-to-retire suite was designed exclusively for the industry’s unique demands and nuanced rules. Viventium is technology built for healthcare. Because expertise matters.
For more information: www.viventium.com.

Media Contact
Dylan D. Hackley
Vice President – PR & Social Media, The Castle Group
914-482-5318

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SOURCE Viventium

Technology

NAHQ Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Two Key Appointments to Accelerate Strategic Growth and Enterprise Readiness

Published

43 minutes ago

August 10, 2026

CHICAGO, Aug. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) today announced two executive leadership appointments that strengthen its ability to advance healthcare quality through innovation, workforce development, and enterprise-wide impact.

Effective immediately, Jeff Allyn has joined the organization as Chief Client Officer, Enterprise Solutions, a newly created division within NAHQ, and Tanya Dilulio has been named Chief Operating Officer. Together, the appointments reinforce NAHQ’s commitment to scaling its impact across healthcare organizations while strengthening the operational and enterprise-level capabilities needed to meet growing demand for workforce solutions.

“Healthcare organizations are looking for trusted partners who can help them build the workforce capabilities needed to improve quality, safety, and solid financial outcomes,” said Stephanie Mercado, Chief Executive Officer of NAHQ. “As NAHQ continues to evolve, we’re building an executive team that can both execute with discipline today and innovate for the future, with intentional expansion to support healthcare quality at the enterprise level. Tanya and Jeff each bring exceptional leadership, complementary strengths, and a deep commitment to helping healthcare professionals and organizations succeed. Together, they position NAHQ to expand our impact in entirely new ways.”

Jeff Allyn Named Chief Client Officer, Enterprise Solutions

Allyn leads NAHQ Enterprise Solutions, the organization’s newly established business unit focused on enterprise workforce solutions, overseeing organizational strategy, enterprise solutions expansion, and client engagement initiatives such as communities of practice, that expand and differentiate NAHQ’s relationships with health systems and healthcare organizations globally.

Jeff began his work with NAHQ in a consulting capacity. During the past eight months, Allyn partnered closely with NAHQ to strengthen the organization’s Workforce Accelerator® program while helping build a scalable enterprise growth function, sharpen enterprise solutions strategy, and advance product implementation and client engagement efforts.

Prior to joining NAHQ full time, Allyn built a distinguished career leading revenue growth, commercial strategy, customer success, and enterprise partnerships with a track record of helping organizations scale innovative solutions and accelerate market adoption.

“Jeff has already made a tremendous impact on NAHQ,” Mercado said. “His commercial expertise, collaborative leadership style, and ability to build disciplined growth strategies have strengthened our enterprise business. As demand grows for workforce development solutions, Jeff’s leadership will help position NAHQ as the trusted resource healthcare organizations turn to when they need to build quality capability at scale.”

Tanya DiIulio Named Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer, DiIulio serves as NAHQ’s senior operating executive, leading the execution of the organization’s overall corporate strategy and overseeing day-to-day operations across the business, including building the infrastructure to support NAHQ Enterprise Solutions. She is responsible for aligning product strategy, technology, operations, workforce solutions, membership, and talent development through an integrated operating model.

DiIulio joined NAHQ in 2025 to lead product strategy and operations before quickly assuming broader leadership responsibilities across corporate strategy, innovation, information technology, and talent development. Her appointment reflects both her demonstrated ability to lead complex organizational transformation and her proven success building alignment across the company.

“Tanya has consistently demonstrated the rare ability to pair strategic thinking with disciplined execution,” Mercado said. “She brings clarity to complexity, makes thoughtful decisions grounded in data, and creates alignment across teams. She has earned the trust of our organization through both her leadership and her unwavering commitment to continuous improvement.”

Building the Future of Healthcare Quality

The appointments reflect NAHQ’s continued evolution as the leader in healthcare quality workforce development. As healthcare organizations face increasing pressure to improve outcomes while addressing workforce challenges, NAHQ continues to expand its portfolio of enterprise solutions, including Workforce Accelerator®, competency-based learning, credentialing, and professional development programs designed to build sustainable quality capability across healthcare organizations.

With DiIulio leading company operations and Allyn driving enterprise solutions growth and client engagement, NAHQ is strengthening its leadership capacity to deliver greater value to health systems, healthcare professionals, and the patients they serve.

About NAHQ

The National Association for Healthcare Quality® (NAHQ) is the global authority advancing healthcare Quality & Safety across the healthcare continuum. NAHQ sets and maintains the industry standard for healthcare Quality & Safety competencies through its Healthcare Quality Competency Framework™. This expert-developed, data-driven, continuously validated Framework, endorsed by Joint Commission, defines the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to achieve measurable clinical Quality & Safety and financial outcomes that deliver on healthcare excellence. NAHQ helps individuals and organizations activate the Framework through education, workforce development solutions, industry-leading insights, and the only accredited certification in healthcare quality, the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ).

NAHQ supports hundreds of organizations and a powerful professional community across the globe to advance a shared vision for strong Quality workforces and cultures.

Learn more at NAHQ.org

Media Contact

Evelyn Warren

704.488.7690

ewarren@nahq.org

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SOURCE National Association For Healthcare Quality