Loading...

Report: State of the Economy, October 2024

by Josee Farmer 2 min read October 23, 2024

This series will explore our monthlyState of the Economyreport, which provides a snapshot of the top monthly economic and credit data for financial service professionals to proactively shape their business strategies.

After the Federal Reserve announced its first cut since 2020 in September, several pieces of economic data have surpassed expectations. Job creation was almost double economists’ estimates, unemployment ticked down, and personal incomes wererevised up. Alongside these areas of strength, inflation continued to prove stubborn. The OctoberState of the Economyreport fills in the rest of the developing macroeconomic story.

This month’s highlights include:

  • Unemployment decreased for the second month in a row, down to 4.1%.
  • Core inflation increased from 3.2% to 3.3%, driven by shelter and service costs.
  • Negative rental payment activity has declined 1.9% over the past year.

Check out our report for a detailed analysis of the rest of this month’s data, including the latest trends in originations, retail sales, and consumer sentiment.

As our economy continues to fluctuate, it’s critical to stay updated on the latest developments. Subscribe to our new series,The Macro Moment, for economic commentary from Experian NA’s Chief Economist, Joseph Mayans, with additional economic resources, including our newLending Conditions Chartbook and our newLabor Market Monitor.

For more economic trends and market insights, visitExperian Edge.

Related Posts

Growth, risk and the rise of "hidden" business accounts As inflation remains elevated and early signs of labor market cooling emerge, the credit card landscape is entering its next phase. Over the past few weeks, policy actions and discussions around potential interest-rate caps have driven increased uncertainty across the credit card industry and broader global markets. Lenders face a careful balancing act: capturing growth opportunities while maintaining disciplined risk oversight. Our second annual State of Credit Cards Report explores the macroeconomic forces influencing the market, key shifts in originations and delinquency trends, and lender mix. New this year, the report also digs into an often‑overlooked segment: business accounts hidden inside consumer credit card portfolios. Additionally, the report offers actionable strategies to help lenders segment risk and drive disciplined growth more effectively. Key insights include: 30+ DPD delinquency rates remained above pre-pandemic levels in 2025, underscoring the need for disciplined asset‑quality monitoring. Fintechs continue to gain ground, posting a 71% YOY increase in account originations.  Business accounts masked in the consumer credit card universe represent roughly 14% of balances and are more than 50% larger than the business card universe — a material segment with distinct risk and profitability dynamics that many lenders are not explicitly managing today. The report also outlines practical strategies to: Identify and segment business behavior within consumer portfolios. Align underwriting and account management with actual usage patterns. Capture targeted growth while protecting long‑term portfolio performance. Ready to dive deeper? Download the full 2026 State of Credit Cards Report to uncover insights that can help your organization manage risk more precisely and grow with confidence. Download report

by Theresa Nguyen 2 min read February 2, 2026

Take a deep dive into this month's economic and credit data, including trends in originations, job openings, and growth.

by Josee Farmer 2 min read November 27, 2024

Check out September's report for a deep dive into the latest market trends, including those around job creation and retail sales.

by Josee Farmer 2 min read September 26, 2024

Subscribe to our blog

Enter your name and email for the latest updates.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Subscribe to our Experian Insights blog

Don't miss out on the latest industry trends and insights!
Subscribe