Report
Published February 27, 2024
Commercial Commercial InsightsNorth American economic strength is riding on the backs of the resilient U.S. Consumer. For the past two years, the fear of an imminent recession rang in the ears of economists and consumers alike, radiating declining confidence in growth and the ability to prolong spending behaviors consumers grew accustomed to during pandemic recovery. Those fears have been pushed aside as consumers beat holiday spending expectations, upending retailers' anxiety entering the season.
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Video
Under Pressure: How Rising Food Costs Are Changing Restaurant Credit Behavior
Experian’s latest Commercial Pulse Report dives into the financial health of the restaurant sector amid rising costs and shifting consumer behavior.
Key insights:
- Menu prices at Full-Service Restaurants rose 4.6% in August — outpacing inflation.
- Limited-Service Restaurants are showing improved credit risk scores, suggesting stronger adaptability.
- Credit access is tightening across the board, with average credit limits falling below $6,000.
- Revolving credit utilization is climbing — an early signal of potential cash flow strain.
What does this mean for lenders and decision makers?
✅ Not all restaurant types face the same risks.
✅ Segmenting credit strategies is more important than ever.
✅ Watch utilization and inquiry trends closely — they may be early indicators of distress.
Check out the full report to see how these trends could impact your strategy!
Video
Credit Signals in Construction: Early Warnings for Lenders and Risk Leaders
The construction industry has experienced significant growth over the last seven years, but fresh data reveals mounting signs of financial stress that commercial lenders and Chief Risk Officers should be closely monitoring.
Check out the full report to see how these trends could impact your strategy!
Video
How Small Businesses Have Changed Since the Pandemic
According to Experian’s latest Commercial Pulse Report, business formation remains strong:
- 471,000 new business applications were filed in July alone
- Between 2018 and 2023, the number of new businesses establishing commercial credit rose by 38%
- New businesses today look more financially stable than those from earlier years
What’s driving this resilience?
👉 Faster tech adoption
👉 Hybrid business models
👉 Stronger financial fundamentals
The pandemic forced small businesses to transform at record speed. Now, they’re leveraging those lessons to build smarter, more adaptable enterprises.
Check out the full report to see how these trends could impact your strategy!
Webinar
Q2 2025 Quarterly Business Credit Review Webinar
Experian’s Brodie Oldham, VP of Commercial Data Science, and Marsha Silverman, Strategic Analytic Consultant revealed several insights on how small businesses are performing during the Q2 Quarterly Business Credit Review.
During the webinar we asked the audience:
- Which macroeconomic factor is having the greatest impact on small business credit conditions this year?
- What actions if any have you taken in 2025 in response to additional tariff?
- How are small businesses adapting to tighter credit conditions in 2025?
Why you should watch:
- Leading Experts on Commercial and Macro-Economic Trends
- Credit insights and trends on 30+ Million active businesses
- Industry Hot Topics Covered (Inclusive of Business Owner and Small Business Data)
- Commercial Insights you cannot get anywhere else
- Peer Insights with Interactive Polls (Participate)
- Discover and understand small business trends to make informed decisions
- Actionable takeaways based on recent credit performance