Beyond The Trends - Summer 2022

The U.S. small business sector faces a pivotal moment as it reflects on a year marked by economic resilience and cautious optimism. Despite widespread fears of a recession in 2023, consumer spending held steady, even amid rising costs. Business owners managed to navigate inflationary pressures, surprising themselves with customer willingness to adapt to price increases. Looking ahead to 2024, the economic outlook remains strong, but persistent inflation and uncertain lending conditions pose challenges. For small business owners contemplating growth, the question remains: is the economic landscape stable enough to transform plans into action? This edition explores the opportunities and uncertainties facing small businesses as they weigh expansion against ongoing market volatility.

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North 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.

The Beyond the Trends Report: Winter 2023 dives into the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses in today’s shifting economy. As inflation strains consumer spending and savings dwindle, businesses must navigate rising costs and softening demand. Backed by Experian’s robust data, the report highlights key trends like increasing credit reliance, evolving consumer behaviors, and the Federal Reserve’s focus on cooling inflation. Small businesses can stay resilient by embracing strategies like market expansion, fraud prevention, and customer loyalty initiatives. With insights tailored to empower businesses, this report is your guide to thriving in a dynamic market.

Explore state-level and industry level data that banks, credit unions and fintechs can leverage to track the downturn and be correctly positioned for the recovery in this monthly report.