Experian has released the latest quarterly report on business credit conditions and things are looking very positive. According to the Experian/Moody’s Analytics Main Street Report, credit utilization rates expanded strongly in the first quarter of 2017.
Results from the latest Experian/Moody’s Analytics Main Street Report, were presented today during Experian’s Vision Conference. The latest report shows small-business confidence levels eroding however; even though the data reveals their credit performance is going well, with steady declines in delinquencies and increases in credit balances, limits and utilization rates.
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Latest Experian/Moody’s Analytics Main Street Report Reveals Strong Business Credit Conditions – Click to Tweet |
According to the economists at Moody’s, small businesses started the year on a positive note with a decline in early delinquencies (less than 30 days past due) and severe delinquencies (more than 90 days past due). We also saw single-digit gains in credit balances (up 8.8 percent) driven by strong credit utilization rates, while credit limits increased by 4.5 percent.
“The market performance data and insights on trends help our small businesses and lenders make more informed decisions,” said Gavin Harding, senior business consultant for Experian. “So while we see that delinquencies are declining and credit limits and utilization rates among small-businesses owners are increasing, we also understand that small businesses don’t have adequate credit to expand at their desired pace. If economic conditions continue to improve this year, we should see financial institutions start to increase credit availability for small-business owners.”
Agriculture stands out as an industry bright point, despite four years of declining income for farmers. Performance in the manufacturing, transportation and public administration industries, however, wasn’t as strong.
Other sections in the Q1 2017 report include a detailed analysis of:
- Small-business risk assessment strategies
- States ranked by their rate of severe delinquency
- Potential impacts from policy changes
- Credit quality in different industries
- A forecasted outlook for the coming months
