Payday shops traditionally provide high interest loans that are due on payday to customers who cannot obtain loans from traditional lenders. Ezcorp, Inc. a pawn shop operator has seen its profit jump 46 percent for the last five years. Well, pawn shops and payday lenders are profiting from consumers bad fortune.

Rent-A-Center has seen wealthy customers making north of $45,000 rent furniture and its stock trading at $32 dollars is up 57 percent. Advance America Cash Advance Centers (AEA) a payday lender has seen its stock double to under $8 dollars; another payday lender Cash America International Inc., (CSH) stock is trading at $58 dollars up 64 percent. Encore Capital Group (ECPG), a debt collector which has faced class action suits has seen its profit margins rise to more than $30 dollars a 50 percent rise.