In Experian's latest Energy Symposium Series, our expert speakers discuss emerging fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 vaccines and how increased use of digital and home technologies could lead to an upsurge in identity theft and ransomware attacks on vulnerable families.

In today’s challenging economic environment, it’s more important than ever for utility providers to adopt strategies and processes that preserve positive customer relationships without hurting their bottom line. Learn how can you more accurately assess your customers’ ability to pay and provide relief to those who need it most.

Experian begins a new chapter with the release of the Q1 2022 Main Street Report through our collaboration with the leading economists at Oxford Economics. During Q1, small businesses kept average commercial loan balances healthy and stable. At the same time, moderate delinquency inched up but remained low overall as business and consumer travel returned to form, offering major tourist destinations a boost.

The fourth quarter of 2021 enhanced the pressure felt by small businesses as the largest wave of COVID-19 hit the US. In addition to the effects of pandemic outbreak of labor and consumer engagement, an inflationary surge, largest increase since 1982, coupled with pandemic-related supply-and-demand imbalances, weighed heavily on US small businesses along with a notable impact to consumer sentiment.

Although workers were getting raises in the currently tight job market, rapid price increases are eroding consumers’ earning power. Average wage earnings went up by 4.0% in Q4 ’21 vs. the previous year, yet a 7.5% increase in inflation results in a net decline in real earnings. Workers’ money is not going as far as it used to. Rising wages, however, put pressure on businesses’ payrolls who may be forced to pass those costs to consumers.