Welcome to the Experian Thought Leadership Hub

Read the latest State of Fintech Report to see strategy playbook fintechs are implementing in 2026 and beyond. Key insights include:

• How fintech leaders are balancing growth, fraud risk and portfolio performance
• Why data strategy is becoming a competitive advantage in credit decisioning
• How identity, credit and behavioral signals are enabling smarter lifecycle decisions
• Practical actions fintech organizations can take to grow with confidence in 2026

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

U.S. small businesses entered Q1 2026 navigating a more complex and constrained operating environment shaped by slowing economic growth, rising energy costs, and tightening credit conditions. The Experian Small Business Index™ declined 5.5 points in February to 48.8, reflecting near-term softening, but remains above year-ago levels and within its historical range, signaling underlying stability.

Macroeconomic conditions are creating some headwinds. GDP growth rebounded to 2.0% in Q1 after the Q4 government shutdown but was below market expectations. Inflation re-accelerated to 3.3% in March, driven in part by rising energy prices following geopolitical disruptions in global oil markets. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz contributed to a sharp increase in oil prices, raising transportation and input costs across industries. At the same time, consumer confidence declined to a historic low of 49.8, indicating growing caution among households and increasing risk for consumer-facing businesses.

Credit conditions reflect a widening divergence between supply and demand. According to the Federal Reserve's Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey, lenders continue to tighten underwriting standards even as demand for commercial credit is expected to increase. This dynamic is likely to constrain access to capital, particularly for smaller or higher-risk borrowers.

Despite these headwinds, small business formation remains strong, with new business applications exceeding historical averages. However, sentiment has weakened. Expectations for improved business conditions declined sharply, and capital investment activity has slowed, reflecting elevated uncertainty and cautious planning.

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