State of the economy report - February 2024

The U.S. (United States) has been in a state of suspended animation from a small business perspective. The domestic election cycle was full of promises focused on government spending to resolve consumer and small business perceived challenges for the next four years. As we emerge from the election cycle, with a clean transition expected, what rhetoric will become a reality is creating uncertainty among lenders and small businesses. Macroeconomic indicators are leaning positive, while stubborn inflation increases prices and borrowing costs. Lenders are targeting a looser environment for underwriting as cashflows remain positive and small businesses feel the rush of holiday shopping. Growth is coming in 2025; the question is how quickly companies can prepare and maneuver through the next 6 months of policy and global volatility.

The November 2024 Commercial Pulse Report is here, and it’s packed with critical data on the construction sector’s resilience and the challenges ahead.

🔑 Key Highlights:

• Businesses are shifting from term loans to commercial credit cards for greater flexibility.
• Delinquencies in construction remain lower than other industries, showcasing financial strength.
• High housing demand continues to fuel opportunities despite rising costs and tight credit.

Whether you're navigating financing strategies or tracking industry growth, these insights are a must-read for construction professionals and business analysts.

📥 Download the full report now and stay ahead of the trends shaping the construction landscape.

Check out the full report to see how these trends could impact your strategy!

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Explore state-level and industry level data that banks, credit unions and fintechs can leverage to be correctly positioned throughout the business cycle.

This month’s highlights include:

• Annual headline inflation ticked up from 2.4% to 2.6%. 
• Only 12,000 jobs were added in October, amid hurricane and strike impacts. 
• Retail sales maintained strength, increasing 0.4% in October.

In this video interview filmed during Money 2020 in Las Vegas, Scott Brown, group president of financial and marketing services, sits down with Fintech Futures’ North America Correspondent Heather Sugg to share how Experian is bringing together the world of data, analytics and software to help modernize the financial services industry.