Explore state-level and industry-level data that banks, credit unions, and fintechs can leverage to track the downturn and be correctly positioned for the recovery in this monthly report.

Read our new report delivering in-depth analysis on COVID-19 economic scenarios as of October 2020 and what they mean for potential trajectories of the economy – with all-new data for Q4.

The report, featuring key insights from Mohammed Chaudhri, Experian Chief Economist, provides a deep dive on:

• Key economic outcomes of a V-, U-, and W-shaped recovery
• Key sectors at risk during the global pandemic
• Government and fiscal policy measures

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.