U.S. credit rating downgraded: What this means for Arizonans

More from this show

The United States’ credit rating just got downgraded.

Fitch Ratings — one of the three major U.S. credit agencies — cut the country’s AAA rating to AA+ recently. One main reason: the credit rating agency cited the January 6 insurrection and the close call on almost not lifting the debt ceiling in time as reasons for reducing the credit rating.

Other reasons include spiraling deficits and the two political parties’ unwillingness to come together to tackle long-term spending and fiscal issues facing America, such as Social Security and Medicare.

We spoke with Geoffrey Smith, a clinical professor at ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business, to learn more about what this could mean for Arizonans.

Geoffrey Smith, Clinical Professor, W. P. Carey School of Business

Beef bourguignon shepherd's pie from Beckett's Table
aired Feb. 20

Season 12 of ‘Check, Please! Arizona’ airs Thursdays

Thomas Cromwell from
March 6

‘Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light’ season premiere watch party

Playlist 48 season 3 promo video collage
airs Feb. 22

Discover new performers on ‘Playlist 48’ season 3

Graphic for 2025 Arizona PBS Digital Video Contest
Feb. 28

Submit your entry in the Arizona PBS Digital Video Contest

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters

STAY in touch
with azpbs.org!

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters: