Interest rates and inflation have been the big drivers of the US economy as of late, but lenders are increasingly optimistic for 2024, despite some challenges. Lenders foresee interest rate declines beginning in 2024 – with 42% believing rate cuts will begin in the first half of the year, and the remaining 58% projecting there will be a delay until the last two quarters. At the same time, they also view “constrained liquidity in the capital markets” as the number one factor adversely impacting the US economy. In the Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey for Q4 2023, the lenders queried identify which macroeconomic headwind is their biggest concern and whether their financial institutions plan to tighten, relax, or maintain their loan structures. They also reveal how much growth their customers expect in 2024 and which industries will experience the greatest volatility this year.

More About Phoenix Management’s Quarterly “Lending Climate in America” Survey -

The “Lending Climate in America” survey is administered quarterly to lenders from various commercial banks, 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.