1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i COVID-19: Commercial Paper Market Strains and Federal Government Support Rena S. Miller Specialist in Financial Economics April 13, 2020 What Is Commercial Paper and Why Is It Important? As COVID-19 spread rapidly in the U
2、nited States, fears of its economic effects led to strains in the commercial paper (CP) market, one of the main funding sources for many firms and for providers of credit to individuals. Commercial paper is short-term debt issued primarily by corporations and generally is unsecured. The CP market is
3、 an important source of short-term credit for a range of financial and nonfinancial businesses, who may rely on it as an alternative to bank loansfor example, in making payroll or for other short-term funding needs. The CP market also helps provide credit to individuals through short-term asset-back
4、ed commercial paper (ABCP), which finances certain consumer loans such as auto loans or other consumer debt. Municipalities also issue CP for short-term funding needs. Some money market funds (MMFs) are key purchasers of CP, which plays a significant role in this short-term funding market. As of Mar
