Market Pulse

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Market Pulse is a monthly podcast by Equifax, in partnership with Moody’s Analytics. Host Theresa Freas, demand marketing leader at Equifax, interviews industry experts about the latest economic and credit insights that can help drive better business decisions. Whether you’re in financial, mortgage, auto or another service industry, we help make sense of the latest economic conditions that impact you. This podcast series supplements our Market Pulse webinars, which occur on the first Thursday of each month. Look for our latest podcast episode on the third Thursday of each month.

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    • May 22, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
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    • 87 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Market Pulse

    How Small Businesses and Consumers are Responding to Economic Uncertainty

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 34:33


    In this Small Business Month edition, experts from Fiserv and Equifax unpack how small businesses and consumers are responding to ongoing economic uncertainty. Darryl Tyndorf, Director of Economic and Analytical Insights at Fiserv; Mike Spriggs, Head of Consumer Insights at Fiserv; and David Adams, Head of Commercial Product Marketing at Equifax dig into a range of topics, from shifting spending patterns and tariff impacts to the rise of side hustles and cautious optimism.Resources:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    A Shifting Economic Landscape: Consumer Sentiment, Tariffs, and Risk Mitigation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 33:13


    Equifax advisors Jesse Hardin, Dave Sojka, Tom O'Neill, and Maria Urtubey explore the disconnect between positive hard data and declining consumer sentiment, rising concerns over tariffs, and their disproportionate impact on households and businesses. They dig into leading indicators to watch—like delinquency rates, employment trends, and consumer spending—and offer practical recommendations to help lenders and businesses navigate uncertainty. 

    Economic Outlook 2025: Inflation, Jobs, and Market Trends

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 22:39


    With President Trump's administration in full swing, we're joined by Shandor Whitcher, economist at Moody's Analytics, to break down key economic trends shaping the year ahead. Get the latest on inflation, labor market dynamics, and the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rates, along with the impact of global trade policies, emerging technologies and more. 

    Navigating 2025: Key Economic Themes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 33:15


    The Equifax Advisory Team dives into predictions for 2025, exploring key economic themes such as tariffs, immigration reform, and the ongoing housing affordability crisis. The discussion also touches on potential policy impacts from the new administration and how unexpected events could shape economic outcomes.

    2024 in Review: Economic Insights and Predictions for 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 33:17


    The Equifax advisory team reviews the U.S. economy in 2024, discussing key developments and their implications for lenders and consumers. Jesse Hardin, Em Aliff, Tom O'Neill, Dave Sojka, and Maria Urtubey explore interest rates, inflation, housing, labor trends, and consumer credit. The Federal Reserve's rate cuts aimed to cool inflation and support affordability, yet high borrowing costs persisted, impacting home purchases and refinances. The labor market showed resilience, with steady job creation, but challenges like rising unemployment and slower hiring added complexity. Consumer behaviors reflected cautious optimism as high credit card rates and rising debt levels strained budgets. The panel revisits their 2024 predictions and look ahead to 2025's economic landscape.

    Winning the Deposit Battle: Strategies for Lenders in a Competitive Market

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 25:30


    Host Tom O'Neill sits down with Equifax's Chief Strategy Officer, Ian Wright, to discuss strategies for growing and protecting deposits in today's competitive financial landscape. With traditional banks, fintechs, and neobanks all vying for deposit share, how can institutions gain a competitive edge? Ian shares insights on leveraging financial data to identify valuable customer segments, including young affluents and high earners, and how banks can nurture loyalty with targeted strategies. 

    How the Fed's Interest Rate Cuts are Impacting Consumers and Lenders

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 35:53


    The Risk Advisor team at Equifax discusses the recent 50 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve and its wide-reaching impact on the U.S. economy. Topics including consumer sentiment, the housing and auto markets, and the lending landscape offer valuable insights into how these changes will affect both households and financial institutions. The panel also explores potential challenges ahead, including the federal deficit and global economic factors. In this episode: Overview of recent Fed rate cut (50 basis points)Impact of the rate cut on the U.S. economyConsumer sentiment and its effect on household spendingEffects of rate cuts on household debt, budgeting, and savingsInfluence on the housing market (mortgages, refinancing, HELOCs)Impact of rate cuts on credit card users and auto loansLending institutions' response to rate cuts (funding, credit, and lending standards)Deposits and savings rates amidst a changing interest rate environmentU.S. government's economic challenges (federal deficit and budget)Global economic factors, including conflicts and their effects on the U.S. marketOutlook for the U.S. financial system

    Decoding Economic Uncertainty: Fed Moves, Budget Deficits, and Global Risks

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 48:59


    In this illuminating panel discussion, Tom Aliff, Risk Advisors Leader at Equifax, delves into key economic concerns and forecasts with economists Amy Crews Cutts, President at AC Cutts and Associates LLC; Robert Wescott, Founder and President of Keybridge; and Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody's Analytics. They explore the implications of budget deficits on interest rates, with varying views on how these factors might influence economic growth and policy decisions. The conversation covers potential Fed rate actions, the impact of global events like the conflict in Ukraine and China's economic slowdown, and the differing economic visions of the U.S. presidential candidates. 

    Strategies for Managing the Surging Auto and Home Insurance Costs

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 36:34


    Bob Homer, General Manager and VP of Insurance and Alliances at Equifax, and Stephen Crewdson, Senior Director of Global Business Intelligence at JD Power, discuss the sharp rise in home and auto insurance premiums, driven by both economic and social inflation, and the impact on consumer affordability and behavior. Bob and Stephen explore how insurers are responding to these challenges, including staffing reductions, ad spend cuts, and proactive communication with customers.  In this episode:·       Rising Insurance Premiums: Post-pandemic premium surge and reasons behind it·       Economic and Social Inflation: Impact on insurance costs from inflation and litigation·       Consumer Impact and Behavior: Response to higher premiums, increased shopping, uninsured drivers·       Insurer Responses: Managing affordability with staffing, ad spend cuts, communication·       Customer Trust and Satisfaction: Effect of rising premiums on trust and relationships·       Popularity and benefits of usage-based insurance policies·       Predictions and strategies for managing insurance affordabilityResources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    The Impact of Inflation on Consumer Behavior

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 26:31


    The Equifax Risk Advisors team explores the complexities of the current economic landscape, discussing key topics such as the K-shaped recovery, inflation's impact on consumer sentiment, and rising delinquency rates. They also respond to recent comments by economists on trends in consumer spending, credit risk, and the nuanced effects of economic policies. 

    Credit and Lending Insights for Small Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 12:48


    With 93% of small business owners anticipating growth, the timing of potential Fed interest rate cuts remains a critical factor. Sarah Briscoe, lead commercial statistical analyst at Equifax, sheds light on the latest trends in small business lending, delinquency, and default rates, highlighting the unique insights from the Equifax small business indices.  In this episode: What small business indices data shows about lending activity and defaultsFactors small and commercial businesses should be watching in current economic climateState and industry level trends that stand outHow commercial businesses can incorporate small business indices into their decision making Connect with Sarah Briscoe at sarah.briscoe@equifax.comResources:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com 

    Q&A: Consumer Credit, Loans & Economic Trends

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 23:40


    Our all-female panel of financial experts answer your burning questions about consumer credit, loan performance, and economic trends shaping affordability. Our panelists including Amy Crews Cutts, president and chief economist at AC Cutz & Associates, and Equifax's own Maria Urtubey, Anna Fisher, and Mariette de Meillon address questions submitted during the March Market Pulse webinar. In this episode:Deep dive into credit trendsCredit scores and loan performanceUtilization and delinquenciesInsights on delinquent loans and consumer profilesPandemic impact and consumer spendingStudent loan debt and consumer behaviorStrategies: Adapting credit models post-pandemicInnovative approaches in credit risk management

    Decoding Interest Rates and their Economic Impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 25:55


    Join the Risk Advisors Group at Equifax as they discuss the current state and future trends of interest rates and their profound impact on the U.S. economy. The conversation delves into the Federal Reserve's strategies in response to inflation and economic shifts, exploring how these changes affect various sectors including banking, mortgages, and auto financing. 

    Automotive Insights: Trends, Fraud, and Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 47:58


    Scott McMahon, alliance manager for Automotive Partnerships at Equifax, leads a panel discussion on current trends, the rising challenge of fraud in the automotive space, and the industry's outlook, with a special focus on consumer affordability and the evolving electric vehicle (EV) market. His esteemed panel includes Steve Greenfield, general partner at Automotive Ventures; Marguerite Watanabe, president of Connections Insights; and Jeremy Robb, senior director of Economics and Insights at Cox Automotive.  In this episode: Growing concerns and types of fraud in the automotive industryThe transition of the automotive industry into a more digital realmAnalysis of current economic factors influencing the auto marketPredictions on short-term consumer behaviors and market trendsEV market trends and future prospectsResources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    How Inflation and Rising Delinquencies are Impacting Different Consumer Segments

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 17:58 Transcription Available


    We're joined by Jeff Richardson from VantageScore to discuss how inflation is impacting households. We dig into factors contributing to rising delinquencies, the expected continuation of this trend, and the impact on different consumer segments. Additionally, we address the role of stimulus on credit scores and the strategies that organizations should have in place for confident decision-making.  In this episode: ·      Overview of VantageScore·      Factors contributing to rising delinquencies·      Two different consumer segments·      Impact of stimulus on credit scores·      Credit decisioning strategies·      Incorporating AI into decision making·      Opportunities of differentiated data Jeff hosts the SCORE podcast where he interviews the new leaders shaping the credit industry, like journalists, academics, and researchers. So be sure to check that out. Resources:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis.  Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com  

    A Day in the Life of a Risk Professional

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 30:37 Transcription Available


    The Equifax Risk Advisory practice explores various aspects of risk management, from evaluating and mitigating risks to implementing strategies that align with institutional goals and risk tolerance. This episode is a must-listen for professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of risk management in today's complex economic landscape. In this episode: ·      Role of the Equifax chief risk officer·      The focus on delinquencies·      Role of risk manager for cards·      Implementing policies to manage credit risk for credit card issuers·      Role of risk analyst·      How economic challenges like a rise in delinquencies impact risk analysis·      Role of chief collection officer·      How the changing economic landscape impacts the chief collection officer·      Biggest challenges for chief risk officer·      Go-to competitive advantages of credit risk manager·      Fulfilling the business goals and targets of an organization 

    Navigating the Affordability Landscape Post Holiday Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 23:32


    Host Dave Sojka and the Equifax Risk Advisors team delve into the intricacies of affordability in the current economic landscape. The discussion covers a range of topics, including the impact of rising debt, inflation, and changing consumer behaviors on consumers' ability to afford housing, automobiles, and insurance.  In this episode:·      Consumer holiday spending·      Consumer spending spikes·      Consumer Price Index and inflation·      Auto market·      New home and rent affordability·      Insurance affordability·      Consumer health by generation 

    Economic Themes Shaping This Year and 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 27:30


    Did economic predictions for this year pan out? And what themes will dominate 2024? Join our Risk Advisory team as they assess how the economic outlook has really impacted consumers and industries. In this episode: Revisiting economic trends Transitory inflation Consumer spending Labor Market Auto Industry Banking and Lending BNPL and regulation Credit Unions Themes for 2024 Resources:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis.  Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    Effects of Consumer Stress on Holiday Spending

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 23:40


    In part three of the Consumer Stress series from the Equifax Risk Advisory team, our experts discuss the impact of the economic and credit environment on consumer holiday spending. They cover various angles, including economic uncertainties, the transition from physical to online stores, the U.S. economic outlook, highlights of the holiday spending outlook, consumer financial options, and the international economic outlook.  In this episode: Connections between consumer stress and sales Economic uncertainties and transition to online shopping  Highlights of the holiday spending outlook Consumer financial options, including BNPL Considering the international economic outlook

    2024 Economic Outlook & Recommendations for Navigating the Economy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 11:17


    David Fieldhouse, Director of Consumer Credit Analytics at Moody's Analytics, provides his economic outlook for 2024. Discussing critical factors shaping the U.S. economy, we cover the end of the student loan payment moratorium to the surge in long-term interest rates, the delicate balance of treasury yields, as well as business and consumer recommendations for navigating uncertainties in the coming months. In this episode:·      Deep dive into economic challenges·      Student loan payment moratorium end·      Long-term interest rates surge·      Interest rates and economic outlook·      Unpacking the 5% treasury yield·      Economic headwinds and GDP impact·      Resilience amidst challenges·      Bright spots in the economy·      Recommendations for businesses and consumersResources:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis.  Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    How Lenders Can Use Data to Reveal Credit and Financial Stresses

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 31:38


    Lenders can use targeted consumer data to drive daily decision making. The Equifax Risk Advisory panel of experts discuss how to dig beyond the macroeconomic indicators to determine exactly where consumer stresses lie. Our panel includes David Sojka, Jesse Hardin, Maria Urtubey, Thomas Aliff and host, Tom O'Neill. In this episode:·      Economists and consumers have diverging views on the economy·      Specific consumer stresses·      Statistics on consumer stresses·      What data can reveal about consumer stresses Resources:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis.  Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    What Lenders Need to Know About Consumer Stress

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 35:06


    Consumers are increasingly facing credit and financial stress. Our panel of Equifax experts including Tom O'Neill, Tom Aliff, Dave Sojka and Jesse Hardin, discuss the factors contributing to consumer stress and the nuances that lenders should consider when evaluating consumers. This is the first part in a series on the topic of consumer stress. In this episode: ·      Economic factors contributing to consumer stress·      Why consumer stress is nuanced·      Do news headlines add stress to consumers?·      What are economists forecasting for the rest of the year and 2024?·      How should lenders distinguish the impacts on different consumers?RESOURCES:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis.  Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.

    Higher Education: A Data-driven Approach to Proving ROI and Putting Students First

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 19:43


    Colleges and universities are facing declining enrollment rates, mounting regulatory pressure, the resumption of student loan payments, the reversal of affirmative action in admissions – and having to prove the ROI of a college degree. Lori Lindenberg, District Director of Enterprise Analytics and Strategy at Maricopa Community Colleges, joins us to discuss how Maricopa is addressing these challenges, while delivering on their student-first mission. In today's episode: ·      How Maricopa is trying to reduce wage inequality for minority groups·      Steps Maricopa is taking to address college affordability concerns·      Anticipating and navigating government regulation·      Driving efficiency and accuracy in reporting for accreditation, national education data collection programs and governing board reports·      Effects of student loan repayments on proving your ROIRESOURCES:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis.  Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.

    How Lenders Can Find the Hidden Risk in their Portfolio

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 26:24


    In this time of economic uncertainty, it's important that lenders focus on account management strategies to detect hidden risk in their portfolios. In this episode, our Risk Advisory panel discusses the most important thing lenders need to be doing right now when it comes to account management. In this episode: ·      Understanding the value of a customer·      Ensuring your account management strategy compliments your adjudication strategy·      Frequency of account monitoring to minimize risk·      Is the cost and effort worth it?·      Should you consider alternative data?·      How lenders develop new strategies for unique situations, such as the student debt repayments Resources: Fintech Solutions: Discover how our rich data, predictive analytics and cloud-native technologies can help fintechs successfully target and acquire more customers, mitigate fraud and make better business decisions. CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis.  Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com  

    Financial Industry: Assessing Risk as Federal Student Loan Payments Resume

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2023 33:05


    After a three-year pause, borrowers must resume their federal student loan payments in October. In this episode, the Equifax Risk Advisory group discusses how the financial industry can navigate the road ahead by assessing their risk and finding opportunity. In this episode:·      How the repayments will impact the financial industry·      Will the additional monthly payment cause delinquencies to rise in other loan products·      How clients can assess risk in their loan book·      Strategies for addressing risk  Resources: Fintech Solutions: Discover how our rich data, predictive analytics and cloud-native technologies can help fintechs successfully target and acquire more customers, mitigate fraud and make better business decisions. CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis.  Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    SoFi: How Fintechs are Navigating Economic Headwinds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 26:05


    How are fintechs managing economic headwinds and credit tightening? We talk with Ratinder Bedi, Chief Credit Officer at SoFi, about how his company is managing these challenges and how fintechs and traditional banks often differ in their approach. In this episode: ·      The biggest challenges facing SoFi this year·      How the restart of student loan refinancing may impact the fintech industry·      What's in SoFi's playbook for economic downturns·      Where SoFi wants to leverage generative AI in its business·      What the fintech industry is doing differently from traditional banks·      How fintechs and other industries are battling the rising tide of fraud  Resources: Fintech Solutions: Discover how our rich data, predictive analytics and cloud-native technologies can help fintechs successfully target and acquire more customers, mitigate fraud and make better business decisions. CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis.  Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    Understanding Market Dynamics in the Current Mortgage Environment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 21:45


    The mortgage industry is facing high mortgage rates, low housing supply, and a tightening of mortgage credit availability. What does this all mean for the future of the mortgage industry and where does this leave consumers? Join us as Joel Kan, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association, provides insight.Resources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis. Reduce Risk and grow your portfolio with Customer Portfolio Review. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    Moody's Economic Update: Possible Challenges Ahead, Reasons for Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 11:26


    Leading economic indicators are flashing red for the second half of 2023, but David Fieldhouse, Director of Consumer Credit Analytics at Moody's Analytics, says there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic. Join us for a mid-year economic update as we discuss the debt ceiling crisis, interest rate hikes, and what lies ahead for the US economy.Topics include: Update on the debt ceiling crisis Possible long-term effects of crisis Moody's Analytics outlook for the second half of 2023 How the financial industry can prepare Reasons for cautious optimism Resources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis. Reduce Risk and grow your portfolio with Customer Portfolio Review. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    Optimizing Your Marketing Strategy in an Uncertain Economy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023 27:09


    The financial industry is pulling back on some of its marketing spend. Is that the right strategy for an uncertain economy? Andrew Davidson, Chief Insights Officer at Mintel Compremedia Omni, joins us with his insights. Andrew is an expert in cross-channel marketing insights, consumer behavior, and global trends.  In this episode: -        A short economic update from David Fieldhouse, Director of Consumer Credit Analytics at Moody's Analytics-        How economic uncertainty is impacting consumer habits-        How financial institutions are adjusting their marketing strategies-        Where are the opportunities for marketing financial products-        Insights on credit card marketing and mortgages-        Strategies the financial industry is using to attract Gen ZResources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis. Reduce Risk and grow your portfolio with Customer Portfolio Review. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    How Lenders Can Navigate This Credit Tightening Environment

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 19:04


    As economists warn of an impending recession, banks have been raising their rates and tightening lending standards. What is the impact on consumers? And how should lenders navigate this credit tightening environment? To answer these questions, we're joined by Jesse Harden, a risk advisor at Equifax. In this episode: ·       In light of credit tightening, why lenders are concerned about their policies right now·       How credit tightening is impacting consumers, and what we may see if the credit tightening continues·       Areas of opportunity for lenders·       Recommendations for how lenders can minimize their riskResources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis. Reduce Risk and grow your portfolio with Customer Portfolio Review. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    How Credit Unions Can Succeed in an Uncertain Economy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 29:53


    In this uncertain economy, credit unions want to understand the risks and opportunities in their current portfolio. In this episode, we'll discuss that topic with Mike Schenk, Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer for Policy Analysis and Chief Economist at CUNA. We'll also discuss: What are the latest trends in credit union operations and financial performance?   How are credit unions different from banks with regards to the types of investment they are allowed to make? What, if any, are the implications to credit unions related to the recent bank failures?  Resources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis. Reduce Risk and grow your portfolio with Customer Portfolio Review. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    Why Financial Institutions Need a Deposit Growth Strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023 16:23


    Financial institutions have become more risk aware following interest rate hikes, an uncertain economy and recent challenges facing regional banks. In this episode, we're joined by Tom O'Neill, a risk consultant with Equifax and Mark Toro, a marketing consulting leader with the Financial Services Group at Equifax to discuss: ·      What is a deposit growth strategy?·      How can it reduce a financial institution's risk?·      What role does data play in an effective deposit growth strategy?RESOURCES:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis. Reduce Risk and grow your portfolio with Customer Portfolio Review. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    How Data Helps Lenders Navigate an Uncertain Market

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 28:06


    The number of small businesses has soared, and that means there is still opportunity for lenders despite an uncertain market. Patrick Reily, co-founder of Uplinq Financial Solutions, provides specific examples of how lenders can use unique data to improve modeling and grow their business. CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis. Reduce Risk and grow your portfolio with Customer Portfolio Review. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com 

    Auto Industry Outlook for 2023 with Jonathan Smoke

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2023 35:23


    What can auto lenders and dealers expect this year? Join us as Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for Cox Automotive, discusses the current slump in used retail vehicle sales and auto loan performance, his predictions for this year's vehicle sales, as well as the industry's bright spot, EVs. But first, we start this episode with a 3-minute economic update from David Fieldhouse, director of Consumer Credit Analytics at Moody's Analytics. Highlights: :30 – Economic update from David Fieldhouse, director of Consumer Credit Analytics at Moody's Analytics3:35 – Jonathan Smoke reveals what the auto market has in common with Michael Jackson's hit Beat It from the 1980's6:17 – Why this year's outlook is “not bullish”10:18 – U.S. supply chain and production is performing better than other regions in the world12:10 – Biggest challenge for lenders and dealers this year14:41 – How affordability is affecting the auto market19:10 - Implications for subprime consumers23:40 - Will the emphasis on online shopping continue?27:15 - The EV market is the positive part of the market32:30 - What is the industry missing or not thinking about that they should?  Resources: Learn more about Cox Automotive and check out Jonathan Smoke's column, Smoke on Cars Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    How the Rising Cost of Living Will Impact Lenders

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 17:31


    The cost of living is rising, and consumers across the globe are feeling the squeeze. How will this impact the lending industry this year? Swarnima Pandey, an Analytics Insights Manager with Equifax Canada shares how lenders can build resiliency into their 2023 plan.This podcast episode was a continuation of the November webinar, Market Pulse: Impact of Global Economic Headwinds on the U.S. Economy.  Access the presentation slides. These insights came from our Global Credit Trends. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and send us your questions at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    2023 Economic Outlook: Finding Growth in Consumer & Commercial Lending

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2023 14:05


    The final episode of our three-part series focuses on consumer and commercial lending in 2023. In our interview with Cris deRitis, Deputy Chief Economist at Moody's Analytics, we discuss how lenders can find responsible growth in challenging economic times. Highlights: 1:00 - Trends in consumer and commercial lending in 20232:22 – Delinquencies will rise with slowing economy3:50 – What impact will new Congressional make-up affect economy?5:00 – National debt ceiling needs to be raised6:30 – How to balance risk and opportunity in lending going forward8:15 – Trade line volume and debt consolidation after holidays9:29 – Small business applications remain high10:45 – What aren't lenders focusing on that they should be Resources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis. Improve the targeting of new business accounts with B2B Connect. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    2023 Economic Outlook: Labor Market Shines Bright for Now

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023 15:10


    This episode takes an in-depth look at the labor market and possible risks it may face in 2023 and beyond. We discuss with Cris deRitis, deputy chief economist with Moody's Analytics, how lenders can adjust their business to better identify risk, as well as opportunity in the labor market. 0:50 – Analysis of labor market in 20232:38 – Potential shocks to the labor market4:55 – Recognizing the variety in labor market; using data to find opportunities6:45 – Smart portfolio management; do job losses or income matter more?9:00 – Lenders should consider long-term labor market11:24 – How do lenders forecast long-term trends in labor market Resources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts and analysis. Reduce Risk and grow your portfolio with Customer Portfolio Review. Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions. Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com 

    2023 Economic Outlook: Opportunities for Lenders

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 12:22


    Are we heading for a recession in 2023? And what should lenders do to prepare for a year of uncertainty? We interview Cris deRitis, deputy chief economist at Moody's Analytics to uncover those opportunities in the lending industry.Episode Highlights: 1:30 – Moody's Analytics perspective on whether there will be a recession in 20232:45 – Consumer spending patterns 7:45 – How can lenders adjust their practices to find opportunities9:39 – Lenders should also think long-term like demographic shiftsRESOURCES:CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecast and analysis. Global Credit Trends: Explore global credit and financial data insights. Delivering trends in credit risk, debt, utilization and delinquencies from around the world.Visit our Market Pulse webpage to: Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions: https://www.equifax.com/business/trends-insights/marketpulse/ Sign up for our free Credit Trends reports for insight on current consumer credit behaviors, trends, and performance across the U.S. Learn more about the Market Pulse podcast. Contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com 

    Is It Possible to Authenticate Digital Content?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 24:46


    Businesses rely on digital photos and videos to make everyday business decisions, but they struggle with confirming the content's authenticity. Bob Homer, VP and General Manager of Insurance and Alliances at Equifax talks with Mounir Ibrahim, VP of Public Affairs and Impact at Truepic about how the company is using data and technology to restore trust in digital images. Don't miss these highlights: 1:00 – About Truepic2:16 – How Equifax partners with Truepic to streamline insurance industry's underwriting and claim processes4:25 –Truepic Vision use cases in industries that rely on digital photos and video7:50 – The science behind the Truepic Vision technology software11:45 – The configurability and flexibility of the platform15:00 – Quantifying savings from using Truepic Vision16:54 – How Truepic can help insurance companies reach economic, social and governance targets19:30 – How Truepic can help verify warranty providers, especially in auto sales21:05 – Ubiquity of digital tools and importance of authenticity to undergird digital transformationsFind out more at: equifax.com/business/product/truepic-vision/ 

    What the Next Generation of Data Looks Like for the Auto Industry

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 27:57


    How can the auto industry improve the customer experience? The answer lies in the next generation of data tools. Join Equifax's Brian Epo as he interviews Atul Patel, CEO and co-founder of the automotive digital marketing platfom Orbee, about the next generation of personalization and how it will transform how consumers buy their next automobile. Jump ahead to these topics: 2:30 – About Atul Patel and Orbee5:50 – What can the auto industry do with today's updated personalization capabilities?14:09 – The auto industry's customer data is siloed, and that is impeding its marketing relevancy16:05 – How the consumer can benefit from contextual personalization18:16 – How Atul reconciles being a MarTech and ad tech thought leader as well as a privacy advocate23:42 – Technology has evolved to allow dealers to segment smaller groups and market to them  For more information about Market Pulse: https://www.equifax.com/business/trends-insights/marketpulse/Connect with Atul Patel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atulpatelx/ or at Orbee.com. 

    Is This the Moment for Consumer-Permissioned Data?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 19:02


    With the summer travel season upon us, a new wave of concerns is hitting consumer wallets. We look at how supply chain shortages, inflation, global conflict, end of COVID relief packages, and potential forthcoming recession will impact consumer credit usage and access – with a special focus on how consumer-permissioned data can make credit more accessible. Join us for the latest insights from David Fieldhouse at Moody‘s Analytics and Jeff Hollander at Envestnet | Yodlee.Show Notes:As consumers feel the squeeze from inflation on their wallet, is the time ripe for leveraging consumer-permissioned data to unlock credit for certain populations? Jeff Hollander at Envestnet | Yodlee discusses the benefits of this aggregated data, while David Fieldhouse at Moody‘s Analytics discusses the latest overall economic and credit trends.Jump ahead to these topics:1:40 – Latest economic insights & consumer credit trends from Moody‘s Analytics6:06 – Certain populations and score bands experiencing higher rates of delinquencies8:12 – How will the student loan population be affected when deferments end?9:50 – What is Envestnet | Yodlee? And how can it help open access to credit?12:05 – Has pandemic accelerated use of consumer-permissioned data?13:50 – How do we get more consumers to opt-in to this data?15:30 – Envestnet | Yodlee: What is the future of consumer-permissioned data?16:50 – Moody‘s Analytics position on consumer-permissioned dataLearn more about the Market Pulse podcast and webinar series.CreditForecast.comCashflow Insights

    Is Your Business Ready for the Changing Face of the U.S.?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 23:05


    A slower birthrate, the aging Baby Boomers, a record number of retirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic and slowing immigration. All these factors are having a profound impact on the U.S. economy and future GDP growth. In this episode, Wayne Best, chief economist at Visa, shares his findings from a new white paper, The Golden Years Planning for the Changing Face of the United States. Find out how your businesses can prepare for these changes.Skip ahead to these topics:1:02 – About Wayne's background1:40 – What inspired the new white paper, The Golden Years: Planning for the Changing Face of the U.S.2:46 – The main findings about key populations shifts5:40 – Is a decline in GDP inevitable?8:35 – Will record number of new business formations offset slower growth10:00 – Our spending habits are predictable; adjust your marketing13:00 – Segmentation is back and is necessary for your business15:00 – Boomers will no longer be the biggest spenders, but still relevant17:25 – Biggest surprise of research: businesses' focus on millennials18:50 – Predicted growth patterns are not destiny if we change rules20:30 – Anticipate shrinking market by growing new segmentsRead more insights at visa.com/economicinsights

    'Tis the Season for Buy Now, Pay Later Loans

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 21:59


    Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans are skyrocketing in popularity. Younger, tech-savvy consumers like them because they are a fast, easy way to purchase something online or at point-of-sale in a store. Many BNPLs don't charge interest, and they can allow consumers who may not qualify for credit to finance large purchases. In this episode, David Fieldhouse, director of consumer credit analytics at Moody's Analytics, and Amy Frasher, FinTech product manager at Equifax, discuss the future of BNPL financing and how it impacts the traditional credit file. Jump ahead to these highlights:1:50  - Economic update from Moody's Analytics4:06 - What is the BNPL tradeline, and why is it having such a big impact this holiday season?6:00 - Who is using BNPL loans, and what are their motives for using them?9:50 - How BNPL is more about the shopping experience11:10 - Outlook for growth in BNPL14:20 - How does the financial industry manage risk? What does this mean for the traditional credit file?To access the latest consumer credit and small business insights, contact your Equifax account executive today, or visit us online at equifax.com/business. You might also enjoy checking out Economy.com by Moody's Analytics for the latest economic updates.******We want to hear from you! What did you think of this episode? What would you like to hear our experts share in the future? Email us: marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com. RESOURCES mentioned in this podcast: Do you have the economic and consumer credit performance data you need?  With CreditForecast.com -- a joint product created by Equifax and Moody's Analytics -- you can access data, forecasts, scenarios, analyses and more from analysts you trust. https://www.creditforecast.com Register for upcoming Market Pulse webinars from Equifax, plus access previous webinars and presentations. Download our latest Credit Trends reports. 

    Financial Inclusion's Role in the Economic Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 21:13


    In this K-shaped economic recovery, many consumers will prosper, while others will continue to struggle. In this episode, we discuss how VantageScore could score about 37 million Americans who are conventionally unscoreable -- and what that could mean for the economy. Join Katherine Doe of Equifax as she interviews David Fieldhouse, director of consumer credit analytics at Moody's Analytics, and Emre Sahingur, senior vice president of predictive analytics research and product management at Vantage Score. This portion of the transcript is edited for brevity. Listen to the full podcast for more great insights.Katherine:It feels like we're starting to see the path forward to the normal-normal, and not just the pent up demand normal. So that's good to hear. We're talking a lot about that top “leg” of the K and that path forward, but there's that opposite path as well -- a whole different population of consumers that are not in that position. So I'd love to hear from you a little bit more of what you're seeing on the credit side for that divergent path in the K.David:The population that I like to study when I'm thinking about the other half of the K, the individuals who maybe are not as well positioned right now, I usually look at the renter population. That's usually the group that I focus on. We estimate there are about 5.6 million delinquent renters in the United States. So this is about 13% of all renters. To put that in context, our best estimate is that about 6% of renters are typically delinquent. In terms of severity amongst the delinquent population, we're expecting that they're about three months behind in payments when you put together rent and utility, and those typical payments that need to be made. Things have actually improved. So, we were talking earlier this year about a potential rental eviction crisis. Things are on the right path to staying away from that true crisis. What we need to do is have rental assistance from the government actually get distributed. There's been a lot of administrative hurdles as money passes from state to local governments to finally make it to the renters. But there are definitely 5 million renters out there right now that are probably not feeling as optimistic about the economic situations. And we need to be cognizant of this group.Katherine:And this is where we can dig in a little bit more to your research, Emre. I would love to hear from your perspective an overview of the unscoreable and invisible populations that you've been studying and what VantageScore was seeking to better understand with that initiative.Emre:You're absolutely right that there's actually a significant focus on the topic of credit invisibles right now. Lack of a credit score certainly hinders that consumer's ability to access mainstream credit products. And that contributes to financial inequities and the growing wealth gap for historically disadvantaged consumers. As you mentioned at the beginning of the podcast, a foundational objective for VantageScore      has always been centered around financial inclusion. Innovations have been aimed at really trying to increase the population of scoreable consumers and to provide a fair and accurate representation of credit risks so that they can have a fair shot at gaining access to mainstream credit products. Now coming to our research, CFPB performed an analysis back in 2015, which stated that there were roughly about 45 million consumers who were credit invisible. But we know that not all of these consumers are credit invisible, really. They're invisible only to some of the legacy systems and models that have not been really updated for quite some time. In our research, we aim to provide an estimate of the total population of consumers 18 years or older, who are scoreable by VantageScore. And we looked at the 2019 census numbers, and we note that there were about 48 million consumers who are not receiving a score through conventional models due to their stringent scoreability criteria. And we can estimate that VantageScore can get to about 37 million of these consumers, meaning we can actually reach about 96% of adults in the United States and provide a reliable and accurate score for them. In our research we performed recently, our aim was to really better understand these newly scoreable consumers. Study what information they have in their credit profiles. Understand some of the demographics such as their age distributions, their income distributions. Understanding that race and geography representation. And we also looked at the association between scoreability and some of the key socioeconomic indicators, such as income levels, education, home ownership, and access to financial services in the communities consumers live in. We also looked at how race interacts with all of these different factors. A key goal for that research was to really identify consumer segments that we felt would be most benefiting from a more inclusive credit scoring model.For more on this interview, listen to our full podcast. To access the latest consumer credit and small business insights, contact your Equifax account executive today, or visit us online at equifax.com/business. You might also enjoy checking out Economy.com by Moody's Analytics  for the latest economic updates.******We want to hear from you! What did you think of this episode? What would you like to hear our experts share in the future? Email us: marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com. RESOURCES mentioned in this podcast:  Download the VantageScore report, “​​Combating Inequality with Inclusivity: Who Exactly is Credit Invisible and How are Racial Disparities Impacting Minority Homeownership Opportunities?” https://vss.credit/inclusivity Do you have the economic and consumer credit performance data you need?  With CreditForecast.com -- a joint product created by Equifax and Moody's Analytics -- you can access data, forecasts, scenarios, analyses and more from analysts you trust. https://www.creditforecast.com Register for upcoming Market Pulse webinars from Equifax, plus access previous webinars and presentations. Download our latest Credit Trends reports. 

    Entrepreneurship & Credit in the Post-COVID Era

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2021 19:51


    In this episode of Market Pulse, Katherine Doe of Equifax discusses the U.S. economic outlook for consumer and small business credit with David Fieldhouse, director of consumer credit analytics at Moody's Analytics. Evan Leaphart, founder and CEO of Kiddie Kredit and co-founder of Black Men Talk Tech, explains his mission of educating kids about credit so they are poised for entrepreneurial success later in life -- and can qualify for credit when they need it.This portion of the transcription is edited for brevity. Listen to the full podcast for more great insights.Katherine:Sounds like these are potentially great conditions for entrepreneurs and those thinking about starting a small business. We've spoken on this podcast and in our Market Pulse webinars about the increases in cashless payments and a huge rise in e-commerce. But then there's also the funding capital and credit side to consider in starting a small business. So I'd be curious to hear what you are seeing in the data for small business credit performance and also availability?David:There is going to be quite a bit of demand for small business credit. There are many cases where businesses are being formed. If we look through business applications, we're seeing them coming in at a pretty high clip, on pace for 6 million new business applications in 2021. If we put that in perspective with 2018, 2019, that would typically be around 3.5. So there's new businesses. I think like all the work that Evan's doing, all the entrepreneurs out there, they are working to make the economy a more productive place. And I think the question then is what kind of financing is there out for these individuals? If we sort of start to look through the data, we saw that in 2020, private lending was a bit tight overall.The signs are strong that credit is really coming back. 2020 was really about the PPP program and that's free credit. So, the private credit sort of stood on the sidelines, but the public credit really came in. Now that program is over. So the private lending needs to come back and it does seem to be coming back overall. Katherine:I'm going back to one of the statistics that Dr. Rob Wescott shared on our June 4th webinar. He shared that a quarter of black-owned businesses report credit availability as their top business challenge due to COVID. And that represents more than double the percentage of Asian and white owned businesses. And I'm just curious Evan, with your network are you hearing that to be a problem? Are you hearing a similar message? And I guess moreover, what can we do to remedy this as an industry and as a community that wants to support all small businesses and entrepreneurs?Evan:A lot of people have great business ideas, but we need the capital to access them. Even to get to the point where you're considered worthy of getting a loan. Just the initial bootstrapping to incorporate your business and set up a bank account properly. And all of the little things which may seem so minute to certain demographics, for communities of color it's a little more challenging. We don't have as many resources around us to really get started. So when we talk about what we can do to be helpful, it really helps people to get through those initial steps. If we really want to be helpful to black founders, we need to help them from the very beginning and partner with them. Do things that uplift, so not just mentorship, but providing clients. Those things that bring actual dollars into the business start to help because now things are showing up on their balance sheets, and now it's easier to get a loan. Maybe it's easier to get an investor. For more on this interview, listen to our full podcast. To access the latest consumer credit and small business insights, contact your Equifax account executive today, or visit us online at equifax.com/business. You might also enjoy checking out Economy.com by Moody's Analytics  for the latest economic updates.******We want to hear from you! What did you think of this episode? What would you like to hear our experts share in the future? Email us: marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com. RESOURCES mentioned in this podcast: Kiddie Kredit is a mobile app designed to educate children on the credit system by completing chores. www.kiddiekredit.com Do you have the economic and consumer credit performance data you need?  With CreditForecast.com -- a joint product created by Equifax and Moody's Analytics -- you can access data, forecasts, scenarios, analyses and more from analysts you trust. https://www.creditforecast.com Register for upcoming Market Pulse webinars from Equifax, plus access previous webinars and presentations. Download our latest Credit Trends reports. 

    Growing Optimism and a Rising GDP

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2021 25:33


    In this episode of Market Pulse, we discuss the U.S. economic outlook, the American Jobs Plan and consumer credit trends with Cris deRitis, deputy chief economist at Moody's Analytics.This transcription is edited for brevity. Listen to the full podcast for more great insights.Theresa: So let's start with an update on the U.S. economy. What do you see on the horizon or what is important for our listeners to know about today, Cris?Cris deRitis: The U.S. economic outlook is particularly strong. It keeps getting stronger or we keep updating our forecast with a more optimistic and positive view. And, really a couple of things have gone right over the last three months. First of all, we have the vaccination campaign that has really surpassed our expectations. We're vaccinating around 3 million people a day now throughout the country and opening up vaccination schedules to people who are younger. That certainly is helping to keep the spread of the virus under control and rebuild some of the consumer confidence. There's a lot of pent up demand that's out there. People are itching to get out. They're looking to shop. I hear that hotels are booked up throughout the summer in many of the key vacation spots. That's going to continue to push the economy forward. The second factor in the outlook is the stimulus packages that were passed in December and February. Those checks are going out now or have gone out, and that is certainly putting more money in folks' pockets. That is also contributing to some of the upgraded growth that we would expect in 2021. The Moody's Analytics' outlook calls for about 6.4% growth in GDP in 2021 and then still very strong growth around 5.25% in 2022. Theresa: A number of times over the past year, we've talked about the K-shaped recovery. The upper leg of the K keeps going higher and the lower leg keeps going lower. Will we start seeing less divergence of the two economies?Cris deRitis: We are starting to see perhaps the bottom leg of the K coming back up. The leisure and hospitality jobs are being added back. Those do tend to be lower income individuals. So, a strengthened labor market down at that part of the K is certainly beneficial. But at the same time, we are continuing to see growth in the upper part of the K as well. The stock market continues to go up. Housing prices continue to rise as well. So we might still see quite a bit of divergence there between those two legs, but at least the bottom seems to be moving upward. Theresa:  Let's talk a little bit more about that fifth round of stimulus. What are you seeing, Cris?Cris deRitis: So this is the proposed American Jobs Plan. It's been pitched in some sense as an infrastructure bill, but it's much more than just traditional infrastructure. It's about funding initiatives that hopefully would increase productivity overall and really continue economic growth or long-term economic growth. So I view it as designed, in part, to fill some holes that we've had in our budget for a long time. So infrastructure spending, I think everyone agrees on both sides of the aisle. I don't think it is controversial that we need to replace some of our roads and bridges. And, there are some gaps in terms of our infrastructure spending on airports and ports. So we just need to modernize. So there's about $600 billion or so allocated within this $2.3 - 2.6 trillion package.On top of that, you have other types of infrastructure, which I think are also equally valid. Rural broadband, for example. So, I don't think there's any real controversy around that. We want to, again, modernize our infrastructure in a way that can help more people access the labor market. And so it's not just about the roads, the physical roads. It's about the internet and being able to access the internet for school or work. There's a lot of things in there that makes a lot of sense, but then you have some other parts where there is certainly much more debate. And, there's funding in there for elderly and disabled care. Not that I don't think, again, anyone really disputes that we need to fund those things. But does that funding belong in this type of infrastructure package? And is this necessarily a spending that would be for investment and improving the productive capacity of the economy? Or is that more of an entitlement taking care of folks who we have promised through our Medicare, Medicaid programs to provide an adequate level of care in their old age, or as needed? For more on this interview, listen to our full podcast. To access the latest consumer credit and small business insights, contact your Equifax account executive today, or visit us online at equifax.com/business. You might also enjoy checking out Economy.com by Moody's Analytics  for the latest economic updates.******We want to hear from you! What did you think of this episode? What would you like to hear our experts share in the future? Email us: marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com. RESOURCES mentioned in this podcast: Register for upcoming Market Pulse webinars from Equifax, plus access previous webinars and presentations. Download our latest Credit Trends reports. 

    Pent-Up Demand & Consumer Credit Expectations

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 16:07


    In this episode of Market Pulse, we talk to Tom Aliff, risk consulting leader at Equifax, about consumer credit trends and insights. He shares the latest in credit balances, utilization, delinquencies and explains how the stimulus has benefited consumers.Jump ahead to these topics::56 - The latest in consumer insights3:11 - Delinquencies are down5:40 - How stimulus has helped consumers6:45 - Small businesses7:15 - Accommodations8:40 - Geographic trends11:14 - Additional insights14:00 How lenders can grow their portfolioThis transcription is edited for brevity. Listen to the full podcast for more great insights.Theresa: We would like to share the latest and greatest consumer credit insights on today's podcast. So, Tom, what's the latest? Are you seeing any major surprises in the consumer insights that you're looking at?Tom: Not necessarily any major surprises yet. I think if we look back to what we forecasted a year ago, we probably would have thought of a few surprises. And of course we're seeing things continue to trend over time where balances are down across the board. The exception is the rise in mortgage balances that recently surpassed $10 trillion.Theresa: And why is this surprising?Tom: If we look back to last year with all the tightening that had occurred in the market and in particular, we saw consumer spend going down a lot. We've been talking about the various levels of belt tightening. I would not personally have forecasted first mortgage to be so high; however, with the interest rates being so low consumers have been accessing refinances. And one of the things that we did notice as well is that balances are down across the board. Utilization down across the board and delinquencies down across the board, which enables consumer scores to be higher.And even though some lenders have been tightening, there's been a lot of pent-up demand. We've all been part of Zoom calls staying at home. I've heard many people say, “I can't wait for my next vacation.” Or, I have two or three ready to go. So we fully expect that there's going to be some return to normal spend levels as we look across bank card, private label and either home equity lines or even personal loans.Theresa: What trends are you seeing with delinquency rates?Tom: Across the board, delinquencies are down quite a bit. Even when we look at year-over-year rates, for example, bank card 60-plus delinquency rate from a dollar perspective is down about 24% compared to February of 2020. And utilization is 18% down. So, that's such a remarkable shift in delinquencies as we look at the year-over-year comparison because we all thought with unemployment on the rise, we would end up in a much more tricky situation.Theresa: Let's talk about geographic trends. We've discussed in the past with our Vitality App that we were able to look at some geographical trends. What are you seeing across the U.S.?Tom: This is why it's really important to dig in deeper both from the consumer side as well as the small business. It's really good to look at that because, as the example you described, there's going to be certain locations that can open up sooner outside. So restaurants will be able to be a little more open as we move into spring. In addition to that, we've overlaid the COVID rates by geography, and we're seeing there is some correlation between data points that have been either on the rise or are decreasing. And then, what type of industries operate within a given location?For more on this interview, listen to our full podcast. To access the latest consumer credit and small business insights, contact your Equifax account executive today, or visit us online at Equifax.com/MarketPulse. ******We want to hear from you! What did you think of this episode? What would you like to hear our experts share in the future? Email us: marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com. RESOURCES mentioned in this podcast: Register for upcoming Market Pulse webinars from Equifax, plus access previous webinars and presentations. Download our latest Credit Trends reports.  Equifax Peak Attributes: Differentiated attributes improve speed to market and ease of use across the entire attribute lifecycle Bankruptcy Navigator Index: Protect against bankruptcy losses with stronger predictive scoring

    Global Staffing CEO of LaSalle Breaks Down Jobs Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2021


    Tom Gimbel, CEO of global staffing company LaSalle Network, on the weaker-than-expected jobs report and the hiring landscape for 2021. Lauren Sauer, Johns Hopkins University Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, on the latest news surrounding the coronavirus treatments, vaccines and spread. Tara Lachapelle, Bloomberg Opinion media columnist, on her column: "Bud's Super Bowl Move Isn't Game Over for Ads." Anna Edgerton, Congress Deputy Team Leader for Bloomberg, on the Senate passing a budget blueprint for Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion relief bill. Hosted by Paul Sweeney and Vonnie Quinn. Read Full Article

    New York-Presbyterian CEO: Helping Overcome Vaccine Fears

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2021


    Dr. Steven Corwin, New York-Presbyterian President & CEO, on the covid-19 vaccination rollout and educating the underserved. Brendan Ahern, Chief Investment Officer at KraneShares, on their new KSTR ETF which gives U.S. investors access to Shanghai’s Nasdaq-style STAR Board. Yelena Shulyatyeva, Senior Economist for Bloomberg Economics, on jobless claims and economic outlook. Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, on Janus Henderson’s client exodus. Hosted by Paul Sweeney and Vonnie Quinn.  Read Full Article

    Surveillance: Jobs Report Bolsters Stimulus Bets

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021


    Jeff Rosenberg, BlackRock Portfolio Manager of the Systematic Multi-Strategy Fund says the January jobs report doesn't change the overall narrative for more fiscal policy.Henrietta Treyz, Veda Partners Director of Economic Policy Research, explains why an infrastructure package will be hard to pass. Tiffany Wilding, PIMCO Chief U.S. Economist, discusses the pandemic-related distortions in the jobs data. Heather Boushey, U.S. Council of Economic Advisers Member, says the jobs numbers underscore the cost of inaction. Read Full Article

    Surveillance: Stimulus Efforts Ahead of Jobs Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021


    Neil Dutta, Renaissance Macro Research Head of Economics, explains his bullish call on the U.S. economy. Dr. Tammy Lundstrom, Trinity Health Chief Medical Officer, says she's confident in the two-dose vaccination strategy. Republican Congressman Andy Barr of Kentucky discusses the GOP power struggle, stimulus efforts, and the recent market volatility. Dana Peterson, Conference Board Chief Economist, says there's scope for scarring in the labor market. Bill Pepitone, New York City Mayoral Candidate, says his first task would be to bring back public safety. Read Full Article

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