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Consumer Report examines "how mainstream lenders have used sophisticated credit scoring to more finely parcel the market and shake more money from so-called "subprime borrowers." Subprime lending is now a $370-billion-a-year business, as the number of Americans with imperfect credit has grown from one on five at the beginnings of the 90s to one in three in 2001, the story reveals. Lenders often keep consumers in the dark about their actual credit scores, and tout their best prime rates until later in the application process when their reveal their higher rates. The report "tells consumers how they can protect themselves and bring equality back to the loan negotiation." It also lists the top subprime lenders and their market shares.