Report
Published October 27, 2025
Credit & Economic Trends Economic & Market Insights
The U.S. economy continues to surprise with its resilience - growth forecasts are improving, equity markets are hitting new highs, and fears of an imminent recession are fading. Joseph Mayans’ Vision 2025 session, “Navigating 2026: Global Macro Shifts, U.S. Credit Trends and the Evolving Lending Landscape,” explored the economic forces shaping the next year - from the AI-driven equity boom to structural vulnerabilities in the white-collar labor market. His key takeaway: while AI innovation is fueling growth and optimism, it also introduces new dependencies and risks that will define the next economic chapter.
Highlights:
- The AI Trade’s Dominance: Economic optimism is increasingly tied to the AI investment cycle—AI spending fuels stock gains, which in turn sustain higher-income consumer spending.
- Potential Vulnerability: Overreliance on AI-driven growth leaves the economy exposed if those massive investments fail to deliver expected productivity gains.
- Labor Market Shifts: AI is intensifying existing white-collar labor market imbalances—more graduates, fewer roles, and increasing automation pressure.
- Credit Market Implications: Rising white-collar vulnerability poses a growing risk for prime credit segments, especially if economic momentum slows.
- Future Readiness: As Sol Rashidi emphasized, humans’ edge lies in creativity and critical thinking—skills that should be strengthened, not outsourced, to AI.
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Webinar
Macroeconomic Scenarios Forecast - May 2026
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
Report
Energy Shock vs. Consumers
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
Infographic
2026 H1 Alternative financial services trends snapshot: growth, risk and where it’s moving
Download the latest Alternative Financial Services Trend Report to reveal new insights on growth and risk, including:
- Loan volume is up 21% YoY across installment and single pay products
- Installment bad rates declined 6.8% YoY
- Returning borrowers grew 26.5% YoY in RTO/LTO
Webinar
Understanding the Consumer: Trends in Financial Behavior and Spending Patterns
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