Welcome to the Experian Thought Leadership Hub

Understand the economic and consumer trends shaping today's lending environment.

• U.S. economic outlook and market conditions
• Consumer credit demand and financial stress trends
• Lending performance across major credit products
• Key indicators to inform lending and portfolio strategies

Credit card performance remains a key indicator of consumer financial health. Join Experian experts as they explore the latest credit card trends shaping 2026.

• Credit card balances, utilization, and payment behavior
• Delinquency and risk trends across consumer segments
• What lenders and businesses should watch in 2026

AI is being adopted faster than the internet and personal computer, and financial services organizations are at the forefront of the transformation. Discover how lenders are leveraging AI across the lending lifecycle – from underwriting and origination to portfolio management – and what these innovations mean for the future of credit.

• Understand how affordability is reshaping renter behavior
• Explore generational shifts and rising rent burdens
• Analyze mobility, migration and payment trends
• Learn how financial conditions impact renter outcomes

Economic uncertainty remains elevated amid geopolitical instability, but the U.S. economy continues to show resilience. Explore Experian's latest base-case forecast and what it could mean for businesses planning ahead.

• GDP growth projected at 2.0% in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027
• Inflation expected to rise to 3.5% in 2026 before easing to 2.1% in 2027
• Unemployment forecast to hold steady at 4.4% through 2027

Consumers have powered the U.S. economy through repeated shocks, but new pressures are testing their resilience. As energy prices rise and economic conditions shift, the outlook is becoming more uncertain.

• Labor market strength is weakening
• Income and wage growth are slowing
• High equity exposure increases risk

Gain a clearer view of how consumers earn, spend, and manage their money in today’s evolving economic landscape. In this webinar, Experian experts break down the financial behaviors shaping demand, risk, and growth—using macroeconomic trends, credit data, and transaction-level cash flow insights.

• Key trends in spending, income stability, and cash flow
• What credit and cash flow signals reveal about your customers
• How to apply these insights to marketing, risk, and growth strategies 

The consumer credit market entered 2026 on stable footing, but rising uncertainty - from geopolitical conflict, energy costs, and interest rates - is reshaping the outlook for lenders and consumers alike. Explore what’s changing and what it means for your strategy.

• Delinquencies stabilizing, standards easing
  
• Rising costs pressuring consumer affordability
  
• New risks shaping lending growth outlook

Financial Frontiers explores the structural shifts, emerging technologies, and regulatory developments reshaping financial services. In this inaugural brief, we examine how stablecoins are moving from niche crypto instruments to institutional financial infrastructure — and what that means for strategy, liquidity, and competitive positioning.

• Why stablecoins are gaining institutional traction
  
• Regulatory momentum and implications for financial firms
  
• Strategic questions leaders should be asking now