Debt continues to be a concern

Debtors in Ohio are feeling the pressure from debt collectors, as the average amount of debt owed in the Dayton region alone was about $22,819, the Springfield News-Sun reports. Much of the reason for the high debt is the fact that unemployment, maxed-out credit cards and tight family budgets have restricted the amount of funds available for repayment. Due to this difficulty in recouping, debt collectors have taken more aggressive tactics, although Mark Schiffman, spokesman for ACA International, stresses that agencies are committed to working with debtors to create the easiest avenue for recovery. "Collectors and creditors these days are more open to working with consumers to settle what they owe," Schiffman told the news source. Ohio isn't the only area feeling the debt crunch - people are having issues nationwide. According to a February report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, about 14 percent of U.S. consumers had debts in collection during the first quarter of 2011 - up from about 7 percent in 2000. The average amount owed rose from $800 to $1,400 during that time period. The most prominent debt area is student loan debt, which reached $870 million this year. According to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, it "poses a large and growing threat to the stability of the economy," The Chicago Tribune reports.