Credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet has identified an increase in the number of consumers with adverse credit histories and has forecast a rise in consumer financial stress, meaning more people will be unable to make their repayments.D&B's report is one of a number in recent weeks showing that fewer households are saving, people are eating into their savings and taking longer to save for their goals (such as  home loan deposits), and an increase in the general level of concern about meeting regular expenses.D&B found that financial stress was most severe in Queensland, almost doubling in the June quarter, compared with the March quarter. D&B's financial stress index went down in New South and Victoria.D&B's director of consumer risk solutions, Steve Brown, said the trend was consistent with economic circumstances where inflation was outstripping wage growth."What's particularly worrying is that this rising stress is coming at a time when we have very low interest rates and a relatively steady job market."A survey conducted by Newspoll for National Australia Bank found that 18.7 per cent of Australian adults rarely or never have any money left at the end of a pay cycle. Asked how they coped when they were caught short, 70 per cent said they dipped into savings, 40 per cent used a credit card, and 16.4 per cent said they sold something they owned.According to the latest ME Bank Household Financial Comfort Report, published last month, the number of Australian households putting away savings each month declined over the past six months, along with the amount being saved.Forty-six per cent of households said they were able to save each month - down from 49 per cent in December and the lowest level since ME Bank started the survey in 2011.Of those saving each month, the amount being saved fell from an average of $835 in December to $735 in June. The peak of average monthly savings was $885 in June 2012.More than one-third (35 per cent) of households reported having less than $1000 in cash on hand in June, compared with 28 per cent in December.The latest Mortgage Choice first-home owner survey found that it is taking a lot longer to save a deposit for a home loan. One in four said they had saved for more than five years - more than double the time it took in 2011.ING Direct's Household Financial Wellbeing index has declined over the past three quarters, largely as a result of a decline in the level of comfort with income and household bills.The biggest financial concern was maintaining current lifestyles amid the rising cost of living. Another concern was "new cost coming from the Budget."The proportion of households "very uncomfortable" with their household income rose from 17 per cent in the March quarter to 19 per cent in the June quarter.