`` Big Three '' are Standard 's & Poor 's , Moody 's Investor Services and Fitch Ratings . Rating agencies downgrade pressure felt this week from Washington to Rome . The ratings agency Moody's said the U.S. is in a " credit crisis " that could lead to higher interest rates for consumers as well as businesses. Historically , they were created to give investors an unbiased assessment of investments and investors paid for access to the ratings . Agencies say they only give opinions on credit ; choices ultimately up to investors .
`` Big Three '' are Standard 's & Poor 's , Moody 's Investor Services and Fitch Ratings . Rating agencies downgrade pressure felt this week from Washington to Rome . The ratings agency Moody's said the U.S. is in a " credit crisis " that could lead to higher interest rates for consumers as well as businesses. Agencies say they only give opinions on credit ; choices ultimately up to investors .