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

Guests on 'Horizonte'
airs May 17

Understanding Latino wage theft and its impact on ‘Horizonte’

A television with logos from Arizona PBS and Amazon Prime on the screen

Arizona PBS is now free to stream for Prime Video viewers in the U.S.

Book cover for We All Live Here with author Jojo Moyes
May 28

Join us for PBS Books Readers Club!

A graphic reading: Protect my public media

Protect My Public Media: Add your voice today

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters

STAY in touch
with azpbs.org!

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters: