Report
Here we goooo!
Published February 25, 2025
Commercial Commercial Insights Credit & Economic Trends Economic & Market Insights
The U.S. small business landscape entered 2025, navigating short-term volatility as the new administration began implementing policy changes amid ongoing global uncertainties. Throughout the fourth quarter of 2024, the election cycle introduced expectations of tax policy adjustments, government efficiency initiatives, and regulatory reforms aimed at bolstering U.S. consumers and small businesses; however, uncertainty over the scope and timing of these policies led to cautious lending and business investment. Inflationary pressures persisted, keeping borrowing costs elevated, while global risks, ranging from energy price fluctuations to supply chain disruptions, added complexity to the operating environment.
Consumer resilience remained a key stabilizer, yet signs of spending fatigue emerged, raising concerns about demand sustainability. Despite these headwinds, strong cash flows and solid holiday spending encouraged lenders to signal a measured easing of underwriting standards. As 2025 progresses, small businesses must stay agile, adapting to evolving domestic policies and global market shifts to seize opportunities and sustain growth in a changing landscape.
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Uncertainty, AI, and White-Collar Hiring
While the US labor market remains on decent footing, it has become increasingly challenging to land a job. For lenders, current dynamics suggest there could be greater-than-expected stress in higher-income households and in the Prime credit segments of the market if layoffs increase and job opportunities for these workers remain scarce. Insights include:
- Businesses are scaling back on hiring due to economic uncertainty and AI uptake
- Employment in both tech-centric and broader professional and business services has been stagnant
- Higher-educated/white-collar workers feeling the strain of a challenging job market
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Macroeconomic forecasting and regional trends - May 2025
As we progress through 2025, economic conditions continue to shift as uncertainty climbs. Discover our experts' insights on how they anticipate the economic landscape to evolve throughout 2025, as they delve into the latest trends and forecasts.
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Small Business Resilience Amid Economic Divergence
The latest Experian Commercial Pulse Report reveals a complex but fascinating picture of the U.S. economy and the small business landscape. According to Javier Rodriquez-Paiva’s research, while headline indicators suggest moderation, like slowing inflation and a steady unemployment rate, beneath the surface, disparities in recovery and credit performance continue to deepen.
Check out the full report to see how these trends could impact your strategy!
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Recessions and Lending
If we go into a recession, what does it mean for lending activity? What does it mean for delinquency? As banks, credit unions and fintechs grapple with these questions, sometimes it helps to look to the past for guidance.
In this latest Macro Moment, take a quick look back at prior recessions and their impact on unemployment, delinquency, and loan growth. Key insights include:
- In the last five downturns, unemployment peaked an average of three quarters after the recession ended.
- In the last four recessions, 30+ DPD delinquency on all loans increased by an average 1.6 percentage points.
- In the prior five recessions, quarterly credit growth slowed from 1.9% in the two years in the lead up to recession to -0.1% in the year following a recession.