Gary Stockton

Incremental increase underscores steady operating environment even as inflation and sentiment present headwinds Mar 2026 Index Value (Mar):49.2 Previous Month:48.8 MoM:0.4 YoY: 2.0 (Mar 2025 = 47.2) The Experian Small Business Index™ remained largely unchanged in March, increasing by 0.4 points to 49.2. This reflects a year-over-year increase of 2 points and indicates relative stability in small business conditions.

by 5 min read At A Glance Commercial office space businesses show strong credit performance despite rising vacancies. Explore key trends shaping risk, demand, and resilience. As we outlined in the May 5th Commercial Pulse Report, the commercial office space sector has been at the center of economic debate over the past several years. Headlines often focus on rising vacancies, remote work, and uncertainty around the future of office demand.

by 6 min read What the Energy Transition Means for Small Business Risk, Cost, and Credit Strategy A structural shift is underway in the U.S. economy—one that is easy to underestimate but increasingly difficult to ignore. Power demand is accelerating at a pace not seen in decades, driven largely by the rapid expansion of AI and data infrastructure. For lenders and risk professionals, this isn’t just an energy story—it’s a credit, cost, and portfolio strategy story.