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US corporate credit spreads narrowed on October 2, 2026, after widening from September 25 through October 1—but the pullback did not erase the earlier increase. The largest rise was in CCC-and-lower debt, while reported spreads also edged higher for broad high yield and investment-grade bonds. The figures establish what moved, not why it moved. CryptoSlate reported the dated sequence.
What changed in US corporate credit spreads?
CryptoSlate’s report gives this three-date comparison for ICE BofA option-adjusted spreads. The September 25-to-October 1 changes are calculated from the reported observations; the October 2 readings are also reported in the article, which identified them as values in FRED’s October 5 update.
| Measure | September 25, 2026 | October 1, 2026 | Change, Sept. 25–Oct. 1 | October 2, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCC-and-lower | 11.28% | 12.15% | +87 basis points | 12.02% |
| Broad high yield | 2.93% | 3.24% | +31 basis points | 3.10% |
| Investment grade | 0.81% | 0.86% | +5 basis points | 0.85% |
One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point. On October 2, each reported spread was below its October 1 reading but remained above its September 25 level. The date-specific observations are reported by CryptoSlate; the changes are arithmetic differences between those reported values.
Did the widening reach beyond the weakest borrowers?
Yes, in the limited sense that all three reported measures increased between September 25 and October 1. CCC-and-lower debt widened most, by 87 basis points; broad high yield widened 31 basis points; and investment grade widened 5 basis points. That supports saying the move extended beyond the weakest-rated tier, but the smaller investment-grade change does not on its own establish broad or severe credit stress.
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The measures overlap: CCC-and-lower bonds are part of broad high yield. They are rating-tier comparisons, not three separate pools to add together. CryptoSlate’s account of the series and comparison is here.
Why did spreads ease on October 2?
The reported figures show that spreads eased; they do not establish a cause. There is not enough evidence in the available reporting to attribute the October 2 move to a jobs report, Treasury yields, or another specific catalyst. Same-day movement in another market is not proof that it drove these spread readings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What a credit spread measures—and what it does not
An option-adjusted spread (OAS) is the yield premium on a corporate bond measure relative to a Treasury reference curve, adjusted for embedded options, as described in the report. A wider spread means investors are demanding a larger premium for that debt relative to the reference curve.
That premium is not the bond’s total yield. Treasury yields are a separate component, so a change in OAS does not mean the bond’s total yield changed by the same number of basis points. Nor do these three days of spread readings, by themselves, demonstrate future defaults, a funding crisis, or an effect on household borrowing rates.
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How to read the October 2 pullback
- It was a partial easing: all three October 2 readings fell from October 1, but none returned to its September 25 level.
- The weakest tier moved most: CCC-and-lower spreads had the largest increase over the September 25-to-October 1 interval.
- The broader signal was more modest: the investment-grade increase was 5 basis points over that interval.
- The data do not explain the cause: the reported sequence is evidence of movement, not evidence of a particular catalyst.
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