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Global debt tops $365 trillion as economists sound alarm over ‘vicious cycle’
CNBC ^ | September 24, 2026 | Jenni Reid

Posted on 09/25/2026 6:57:25 AM PDT by Twotone

Ever-higher costs to service mounting debt loads pose a major risk to governments around the world, economists have warned.

Global debt rose by $10 trillion in the first half of the year to top $365 trillion, according to research published by the Institute of International Finance on Wednesday. State debts are rising as yields on medium- and long-term government bonds issued by a slew of the world’s biggest economies hit their highest levels in more than a decade — including in the U.S., Japan, France and the U.K. Rising yields reflect growing investor discomfort at rising interest rates, persistent energy cost pressures, tepid economic growth and high fiscal spending.

The IIF highlighted the four major economies in particular as facing “persistently large deficits and rising interest expenses — challenges long associated with debt-distressed emerging market sovereigns.”

The Washington-based group found that advanced economies paid over $3.3 trillion in interest on internationally traded government bonds last year, more than global spending on AI ($2.6 trillion), defense ($3.1 trillion), or clean energy ($2.3 trillion).

Debt has become a political issue, creating a “vicious cycle between elections and short-term quick fixes, and a long-term vulnerability as the marginal utility of higher debt diminishes,” the IIF warned.

“As benchmark rates rise, interest expense is set to surge, while structural pressures from healthcare and public pension spending remain largely unaddressed,” it added.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: debt; economy; imf; viciouscycle
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1 posted on 09/25/2026 6:57:25 AM PDT by Twotone
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To: Twotone

Who is holding the notes on all this debt?


2 posted on 09/25/2026 7:02:17 AM PDT by z3n (Kakistocracy)
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To: Twotone

socialism and communism is destroying all the economies in the world.


3 posted on 09/25/2026 7:06:44 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: Twotone

Core principle of macroeconomics: When debt is accumulated for consumption and not productive investment, bankruptcy follows.


4 posted on 09/25/2026 7:14:39 AM PDT by allendale
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To: Twotone

So, I balance my checkbook for nothing?


5 posted on 09/25/2026 7:14:51 AM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: z3n

Who is holding the notes on all this debt?


I was listening to Glenn Beck discussing a related topic. Our federal reserve, which means the five biggest banks, are buying up bonds that are being sold by countries like China. This is not going to turn out well.


6 posted on 09/25/2026 7:15:51 AM PDT by Twotone (Sometimes I wrestle with my demons. Sometimes we just snuggle.)
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To: Twotone

That’s what “Rogue AI Agents” are for. AI will hack the global treasuries systems and “poof”, a global reset of finance will be needed. You really don’t think all this AI nonsense is what it’s presented to be, do you?


7 posted on 09/25/2026 7:23:47 AM PDT by blackdog (The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.)
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To: Twotone

The piper needs to be paid.


8 posted on 09/25/2026 7:24:32 AM PDT by sauropod ("They eventually succomb to the dollar" - President Donald J. Trump Ne supra crepidam)
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To: z3n
Who is holding the notes on all this debt?

Not a student of history, I see...

9 posted on 09/25/2026 7:25:52 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Assez de mensonges et des phrases)
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To: Twotone

Unless China keeps propping up their currency until after we can dump it or it matures. I guess we’ll see.


10 posted on 09/25/2026 7:33:58 AM PDT by Merrick (It's a car - that runs on water, man.)
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To: Twotone

We own 11% of the debt and our GDP is 25% of global GDP. I don’t like our debt, but our debt is better than everyone else’s.


11 posted on 09/25/2026 7:35:37 AM PDT by Merrick (It's a car - that runs on water, man.)
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To: Twotone

They never talked about this until USAid ended.
They want it back!


12 posted on 09/25/2026 7:37:20 AM PDT by Zathras
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To: z3n

“They” are, and that’s funny since “They” stole most of it.


13 posted on 09/25/2026 7:37:49 AM PDT by Shady (#EnoughIsEnough, and we have HAD ENOUGH!)
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To: z3n
Who is holding the notes on all this debt?

I don't know, but these people say they do...

14 posted on 09/25/2026 8:14:46 AM PDT by PerConPat (The politician is an animal which can sit on a fence And yet keep both ears to the ground.- Mencken)
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To: Twotone

When this blows up, the conflicts initiated by the elite globalists will make WW2 look like a picnic. Sad.


15 posted on 09/25/2026 8:44:03 AM PDT by john drake (Lucius Accius-Roman,170 BC - "oderint dum metuant" translated "Let them hate so long as they fear")
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To: Twotone

Rising debt + rising interest rates = rising interest payments consumes the budget

National debt has more than doubled from $18T to $39T since 2015

https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-americas-39-trillion-debt-looks-like-on-a-family-budget


16 posted on 09/25/2026 8:49:18 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: Twotone

Owning debt....dreaming that your money pile is yuge, then it collapses by the addicts you overfed.


17 posted on 09/25/2026 9:10:53 AM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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