FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Americans are back to their old irresponsible ways when it comes to credit card spending.
A new survey shows that only 54% of Americans have more emergency savings than credit card debt.
Which means many of us are only one major unplanned expense away from financial catastrophe.
The BankRate.com poll also shows 25% of those surveyed have more credit card debt than emergency savings.
And 16% have neither credit card debt nor emergency savings.
Who's most likely to save? Households making $75,000 or more per year, college graduates and retirees.
And parents are most likely to have more credit card debt than emergency savings.
No surprise here - households making less than $30,000, those with a high school education or less and the unemployed are most likely to have neither debt nor savings.
The survey also shows consumers' overall financial situation is negative:
More people report a lower level of financial security and are less comfortable with their savings compared to one year ago.
Meanwhile, the New York Post reports that total consumer debt reached its highest point in a decade last month.
Experts say that after a few months of reducing credit card debt levels, Americans are back to relying on the plastic.
There's a concern that middle class Americans are taking on too much risk.
Running up credit card debt at a time of long-term unemployment, stagnant wages and increased household expenses could be toxic.
Here’s my question to you: What does it mean when one out of every four Americans has more credit card debt than emergency savings?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 4pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.