Welcome to the Experian Thought Leadership Hub

See how a single attacker leveraged fraud ring tactics to compromise over 50 accounts in under 30 days—and how to detect and stop solo account takeover attacks at scale.

Key insights:

• Lone fraudsters can replicate fraud ring tactics using playbooks, tools and stolen credentials
• A single device can target dozens of accounts rapidly with consistent, repeatable actions
• Behavioral, device and location signals help distinguish imposters from legitimate users
• Stopping high-risk devices early prevents attacks from scaling across multiple accounts

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

Explore how modern fraudsters use coordinated, strategic attack methods—and learn how to detect, disrupt and prevent them using behavioral intelligence and real-time insights.

Key insights:

• Fraudsters use structured attack strategies like reconnaissance, blitzes and deception to exploit weaknesses
• AI-driven bots and automation are rapidly increasing the scale and speed of fraud attacks
• Behavioral analytics reveals hidden fraud signals traditional tools miss
• Early detection and layered defenses help stop attacks before they escalate

Uncover a coordinated account takeover fraud ring in action and learn how it was stopped using behavioral, device and network intelligence.

Key insights:

• Fraud rings operate with structured roles to efficiently execute account takeover attacks
• Compromised accounts can be connected across devices, revealing coordinated activity
• Behavioral, device and network intelligence expose fraud signals traditional tools miss
• Stopping ATO requires identifying and dismantling the full fraud ring, not just individual logins

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

Global Insights 2026 explores how financial institutions are shifting from rapid AI adoption to accountable, connected intelligence. As fraud grows more sophisticated and risk functions converge, success depends on governed data, orchestrated ecosystems, and explainable decisions at scale.

• Accountable AI with measurable ROI and governance
  
• Layered fraud and continuous identity verification
  
• Unified credit, fraud, and compliance intelligence

The U.S. economy continued to expand in Q4 2025, though the pace of growth slowed and underlying indicators presented increasingly mixed signals. Real GDP rose at a 1.4% annualized rate, reflecting continued expansion but marking a deceleration from earlier in the year. In January 2026[GS1.1][SM1.2], inflation moderated to 2.4% year-over-year, providing relief to businesses and consumers alike. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate remained relatively low at 4.3%, underscoring ongoing labor market resilience.

However, beneath these stable headline indicators, signs of cooling emerged. Consumer spending and retail sales slowed during the quarter, suggesting households are becoming more selective amid elevated borrowing costs and slower wage growth. While consumer sentiment edged slightly higher in December, spending momentum weakened. Wage growth continued to moderate, and labor market churn declined, with lower quits and softer hiring activity signaling a gradual normalization rather than contraction.

According to the Experian Small Business Index™, business credit conditions remained within the typical 40-60 range. Lending availability showed slight tightening during the fourth quarter, while APRs remained elevated but stable. Entrepreneurial momentum remained strong. New business formations averaged approximately 509,000 per month, with acceleration most pronounced in the South and West.

Despite these pressures, optimism improved modestly among both consumers and small business owners. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index and University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index both recorded gains in December, suggesting confidence has stabilized even as economic momentum slows. As 2025 closesclosed, small businesses remained fundamentally stable but increasingly cautious, navigating a higher-cost credit environment and moderating demand.

Read our first-annual 2026 Public Sector Trends & Impact Report to understand the forces reshaping agency operations and trust:

• Rising fraud and program integrity risks
• Modernization challenges across legacy and digital systems
• Workforce strain and responsible automation
• Securing citizen access without increasing friction