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The USA’s Credit Score Was Dinged – How Is Your Credit Score?

Posted By Ron On August 8, 2011 @ 1:00 AM In Credit,Government | Comments Disabled

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Just like individual credit scores are calculated by three bureaus (Equifax [2], Transunion, and Experian) the credit scores of countries are also rated by three agencies (Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch). While both individuals and sovereign states both borrow money, the way scores are recorded are very different.

Individual credit scores [3] range from 350 to 850, with anything higher than 780 considered very good. Credit ratings for countries are usually recorded using letters, pluses and minuses, and numbers.

If you don’t know your credit score [4], you can easily find out ALL THREE scores for FREE at GoFreeCredit.com [5].

With the US credit rating (or credit score [3]) being downgraded by Standard and Poors from AAA to AA+, it’s much like having an individual credit score [4] decline from 850 to 820, maybe 800. What really makes things worse is that the “outlook” is considered negative, meaning the rating could easily worsen.

What does this mean for the average person? Not a whole lot. Your personal financial situation is still more dependent on your ability to:

  1. Make extra money [6].
  2. Control your personal expenses so that you spend less than you earn.
  3. Stay out of high interest debt (move your credit card [7] debt to a long duration zero percent balance transfer card like the Discover® More Card [8]).
  4. Save [9] money and invest [10] it properly.
  5. If you buy a home, make certain your mortgage [11] is specifically designed for your personal situation (check with Quicken Loans [12]).

What are other countries credit ratings? These are the latest ratings I could find on 33 countries and obviously are subject to change.

CountryMoodys RatingMoodys OutlookFitch RatingFitch OutlookS & P RatingS & P Outlook
USAAaaReviewAAAStableAA+Negative
ArgentinaB3StableBStableBStable
AustraliaAaaStableAA+StableAAAStable
AustriaAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
BelgiumAa1StableAA+NegativeAA+Negative
BrazilBaa2PositiveBBBStableBBB-Positive
CanadaAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
ChinaAa3PositiveA+StableAA-Stable
DenmarkAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
EstoniaA1StableA+StableAPositive
FinlandAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
FranceAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
GermanyAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
GreeceCaDevelopingCCCCCNegative
IcelandBaa3NegativeBB+StableBBB-Negative
IndiaBaa3StableBBB-StableBBB-Stable
IrelandBa1NegativeBBB+NegativeBBB+Stable
IsraelA1StableAStableAStable
ItalyAa2ReviewAA-StableA+Negative
JapanAa2ReviewAANegativeAA-Negative
KoreaA1StableA+StableAStable
KuwaitAa2StableAAStableAAStable
NetherlandsAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
NorwayAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
PolandA2StableA-StableA-Stable
Saudi ArabiaAa3StableAA-StableAA-Stable
SingaporeAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
SpainAa2ReviewAA+NegativeAANegative
SwedenAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
UkraineB2StableBPositiveB+Stable
UAEAa2StableAAStableAAStable
United KingdomAaaStableAAAStableAAAStable
VenezuelaB2StableB+StableBB-Stable
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About the author

Ron has written 1082 articles on The Wisdom Journal.


The founder and editor of The Wisdom Journal [13] in 2007, Ron has worked in banking, distribution, retail, and upper management for companies ranging in size from small startups to multi-billion dollar corporations. He graduated Suma Cum Laude from a top MBA program and currently is a partner in a national building materials company.


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[1] Tweet: https://twitter.com/share

[2] Equifax: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/go/equifax.php/

[3] credit scores: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/credit/#credit-score-information

[4] credit score: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/go/myfico.php

[5] GoFreeCredit.com: http://www.gofreecredit.com/r/4d8948948e/?subid=

[6] Make extra money: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/make-extra-money-incom/

[7] credit card: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/credit-card-information/

[8] Discover® More Card: http://links.ncsreporting.com/redirect.aspx?cr=105795&of=1800&af=128490&ac=100&uv=

[9] Save: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/go/savingsaccount.php/

[10] invest: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/go/trademonster_information.php

[11] mortgage: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/mortgage-basics/

[12] Quicken Loans: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/go/quicken_loans.php

[13] The Wisdom Journal: http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/

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