More than three-quarters of young adults delaying major life change because of economy

Last week, the New York Federal Reserve reported student debt now outweighs total credit card dues in the U.S. That was a sobering report on the state of the U.S. credit market, which has been fairly unbalanced since the recession began. While consumer credit has been improving in certain areas, debt remains high, and many small businesses continue to face trouble obtaining a loan. On Thursday, nonprofit group Generation Opportunity released a report showing a large proportion of young adults are actually postponing major life decisions and loan repayment due to current economic conditions. According to the report, 27 percent of Americans aged 18-29 will hold off on student debt payments because of economic considerations, and as much as 77 percent either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to economic factors. "The heart of the matter here is that young Americans need jobs in order to repay any debts, including student loans and to plan for the future," said Paul Conway, president of Generation Opportunity. "The poor economy and a lack of jobs are the central reasons why millions of young Americans have delayed their dreams of buying a home, getting more education, saving for retirement, getting married or starting a family."