U.S. Debt Default Risk Rises Amid Congressional Gridlock

As U.S. debt reaches 3.62 trillion dollars, investors are increasingly concerned about rising risks associated with U.S. debt, driving up interest costs for all borrowers. A credit default swap analysis reveals damage from Congress's political infighting and a decline in market assessments of U.S. credit ratings. The Treasury is relying on "extraordinary measures" to pay bills, and Congress must raise the debt ceiling again.