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Publication Date: April 21, 2026
Lenders are increasingly focused on geopolitical risk, stock market stability, and the budget deficit in the first quarter of 2026. The survey also found that lenders expect their customers to invest in capital improvements, introduce new products and services, and hire new employees over the next six to twelve months. Additionally, a large majority of survey respondents believe the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates or keep them unchanged over the next six months.
In the “Lending Climate in America” survey for Q1 2026, the lenders queried identify which two factors will have the greatest potential to affect the US economy, and whether their financial institutions plan to tighten, relax, or maintain their loan structures in the next six months. The survey also reveals which industries lenders believe are most likely to experience near-term volatility, along with the pressures affecting those sectors, including Finance & Insurance and Energy & Power.
READ THE COMPLETE SURVEY RESULTS HERE: Click here to view
The “Lending Climate in America” survey is administered quarterly to lenders from various commercial banks, private credit funds, finance companies, and factors across the country. Our team of experts collects, tabulates, and analyzes the results to create a complete evaluation of national attitudes and trends.
To view all "Lending Climate in America" reports, please click here.
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