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Trade Disruption Drives Uncertainty With Small Businesses

Published: April 17, 2025 by Gary Stockton

Commercial Pulse Report | 4/22/2025

The Experian Commercial Pulse Report, will officially be released on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. This edition focuses on current trade disruption, and the air of uncertainty in the U.S. economy, particularly as it relates to trade policy. While inflation has recently eased and small businesses gained modest ground in February, recent trade developments and softening optimism suggest cautious times ahead—especially for Main Street.

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A Historic Trade Deficit Raises Eyebrows

Let’s start with a stat that might surprise you: The U.S. currently holds a $1.1 trillion trade deficit with just its top 10 trade partners—the highest ever recorded. This staggering gap highlights the country’s heavy reliance on imports, especially from countries like China, Mexico, and Germany.

Even more telling, the U.S. also has a $990 billion trade deficit across its top 10 import categories, ranging from electronics and machinery to vehicles and pharmaceuticals. The lone bright spot? A trade surplus of over $70 billion in mineral fuels and plastics. This imbalance, coupled with a flurry of recently enacted tariffs, has shaken market confidence and raised the stakes for small business supply chains.

Small Business Conditions Improve—Cautiously

Despite the macroeconomic noise, small businesses are showing some signs of resilience. The Experian Small Business Index™ rose by 3.9 points to 45.4 in February, marking the second consecutive monthly gain. While still below the neutral threshold of 60, the index suggests modest recovery in business credit health and access to capital.

Positive trends include:

  • Low unemployment (4.2%)
  • Cooling core inflation (2.8%)
  • Rising existing home sales (+4.2%)
  • Steady wage growth (up to $30.96/hour)

Yet, it’s not all good news. Compared to a year ago, the index is still down nearly 9 points. Small business optimism declined sharply to 97.4, dropping below its 51-year average and reflecting growing concern about inflation, policy changes, and the impact of new tariffs.

The Manufacturing Sector: Small but Mighty

One of the more compelling narratives in this month’s report centers on the evolving U.S. manufacturing sector. Once ravaged by outsourcing and automation, manufacturing is now undergoing a quiet transformation, driven largely by small businesses.

Manufacturing shipments, inventories, and orders reached a record $596.8 billion in February 2025. And while total employment has not rebounded to pre-2000 levels, the number of manufacturing businesses has, indicating a new wave of small and mid-sized manufacturers entering the market.

Younger businesses—those less than two years old—now account for:

  • Nearly 13% of monthly commercial credit originations, up from less than 1% just a few years ago.
  • Outstanding average credit balances of $57,000, almost double from early 2022.

These trends point to an emerging entrepreneurial base in manufacturing, which could reshape the industry’s future.

What to Watch Going Forward

While economic fundamentals show signs of stability, the policy environment is becoming increasingly volatile. Since the new administration took office in January, tariffs have been announced, adjusted, or enacted nearly daily, leading to market swings, rising input costs, and disrupted supply chains. Many small business owners are now operating in a world where trade policy, not just demand or inflation, is directly impacting their bottom line.

Stay Ahead with Experian

  • Visit our Commercial Insights Hub for in-depth reports and expert analysis.
  • Subscribe to our YouTube channel for regular updates on small business trends.
  • Connect with your Experian account team to explore how data-driven insights can help your business grow.
E-commerce is booming but fewer businesses seek credit

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Jun 30,2025 by Gary Stockton

Uncertainty fueling entrepreneurial activity

Commercial Pulse Report | 6/17/2025 Economic uncertainty is often seen as a deterrent to growth, but for many Americans, it’s become the fuel for a fresh start. As inflation wavers and traditional employment structures shift, more individuals are stepping out of corporate roles to pursue business ownership. In this week's Commercial Pulse Report, we take a closer look at what's driving this wave of entrepreneurial activity. Gen X Leads the Charge Toward Self-Employment According to Guidant Financial's 2025 Small Business Trends report, Generation X is leading the charge. Many in this age group are opting out of traditional career paths, motivated by a desire for autonomy, flexibility, and a more purposeful work life. According to Guidant’s report, Gen X holds the largest share of U.S. small business ownership, with a significant portion of these entrepreneurs transitioning from established careers. What’s driving this shift? Dissatisfaction with corporate life and a strong desire to be one’s own boss are leading motivators. It’s a story of experienced professionals reevaluating priorities and seeking more control over their financial future. And it appears to be a fulfilling decision—75% of small business owners report being happy with their choice to go independent. Retirement Savings Power New Ventures A surprising—but telling—statistic in ’s report: 53% of new business owners used 401(k) retirement funds to launch their ventures. This trend underscores a growing willingness to invest personal wealth into long-term entrepreneurial aspirations. Known as Rollovers as Business Startups (ROBS), this approach allows individuals to use retirement funds without early withdrawal penalties. It’s a bold move, signaling high confidence among business owners—but also highlighting gaps in access to traditional funding channels. Entrepreneurs are taking on more personal risk, in part because institutional capital isn't always accessible to young businesses. Interestingly, 56% of all new businesses are either newly founded or existing independent ventures, showing a diverse range of entrepreneurial approaches—from solo startups to revitalized legacy brands. The Credit Dillema for Young Businesses Experian’s data shows that businesses under two years old account for more than 50% of new commercial card originations. These companies are opting for credit cards over term loans due to fewer barriers to entry, but this often means lower funding limits. Meanwhile, newer businesses face steeper challenges securing traditional loans. They now represent just 15% of term loan originations, down from 27% in 2022. For lenders, policy makers, and service providers, these trends underscore the need to rethink how we support emerging businesses. From alternative funding tools to better credit-building pathways, there’s a growing opportunity to empower America’s newest entrepreneurs. Stay Ahead with Experian ✔ Visit our Commercial Insights Hub for in-depth reports and expert analysis. ✔ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for regular updates on small business trends. ✔ Connect with your Experian account team to explore how data-driven insights can help your business grow. Download the Commercial Pulse Report Visit Commercial Insights Hub Related Posts

Jun 16,2025 by Gary Stockton

Can industry-specific models address supply chain risk?

Commercial Pulse Report | 6/3/2025 The latest Experian Commercial Pulse Report provides a sharp look at how recent economic shifts are impacting small businesses across the U.S., with a special focus on supply chains, specifically the transportation industry, which is experiencing fallout from changing trade policies. Are industry-specific models effective in mitigating risk? Inflation, Employment, and Consumer Outlook April inflation cooled slightly to 2.3%, marking the lowest increase since February 2021. While this might suggest some price relief, the overall sentiment in the market tells a more cautious story. Unemployment held steady at 4.2%, and wages continued to climb, signaling that the labor market remains resilient. However, optimism is waning. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index dropped to 95.8, its lowest point since October 2024. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment fell to 50.8 in early May, reflecting growing concern over the economic outlook. Together, these indicators suggest that although the job market remains stable, confidence — both among businesses and consumers — is eroding. A Dip in the Small Business Index April saw a drop in Experian’s Small Business Index, falling from 47.2 to 43.2, with a year-over-year decline of 11.9 points. This marks the first decline in four months and highlights the early impact of broad tariffs announced on April 2nd. While the dip was modest, it reflects growing pressure on small businesses as they navigate cost increases, supply chain uncertainty, and changing consumer behavior. Encouragingly, despite the turbulence, several economic indicators remained steady. Mortgage rates held below 7% for the 17th straight week, and business formation remained strong with over 449,000 new businesses launched in April. Transportation Industry: First to Feel the Hit This month’s report shines a spotlight on the transportation sector, which has been uniquely sensitive to recent tariff activity. As a major driver of the U.S. economy — contributing 3.3% to GDP and employing over 4% of the workforce — transportation is often the first industry to feel the ripple effects of economic change. And the response was swift. After trade tariffs were announced in early April, shipping volumes from China to the U.S. dropped by more than 60% year-over-year. Just weeks later, following a temporary 90-day lift on tariffs, volumes rebounded sharply, jumping over 28%. This volatility underscores the sector’s dependence on global trade — and the speed at which policy shifts can influence business activity. Rising Risk — and Smarter Tools Financial stress in the transportation industry is rising. Businesses are carrying higher credit balances, delinquencies are increasing, and commercial credit scores have fallen from 44 to 36 since 2015. These trends point to a sector that’s struggling to adapt amid changing economic conditions. To help lenders better manage risk, Experian developed a transportation-specific credit model that significantly outperforms generic scoring models. By focusing on variables like credit utilization and payment history — which are particularly telling in this industry — the model offers a more accurate picture of which accounts using transportation financing are most likely to default. In today’s uncertain environment, such targeted tools are crucial for staying ahead of risk. Generic models aren't enough For credit professionals and risk leaders, the message is clear: in times of volatility, generic models aren’t enough. Tailored strategies — like Experian’s transportation-specific scoring model — provide the clarity needed to make smarter, faster decisions. Read this week's report for more details. Stay Ahead with Experian ✔ Visit our Commercial Insights Hub for in-depth reports and expert analysis. ✔ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for regular updates on small business trends. ✔ Connect with your Experian account team to explore how data-driven insights can help your business grow. Download the Commercial Pulse Report Visit Commercial Insights Hub Related Posts

Jun 03,2025 by Gary Stockton

Commercial Insights Hub

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