Newsletter

Infrastructure Week, April 2025

Tariffs and Underwriting – What Lenders Need to Know

Tariffs and Underwriting — What Lenders Need to Know
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✉️ A Note to SMB Lenders, Friends, and Partners


Small businesses are facing tighter cash flow, rising costs, and growing uncertainty. Lenders are being asked to meet urgent needs while managing risk in real time.


We’re always striving to help you navigate moments like this by supporting your growth strategy and your day-to-day decisions.


In recent conversations, many of you shared that the rules have abruptly changed. It’s harder to assess risk as businesses respond tariffs and a shifting economy. That’s why we put together:

📊 Lender Econ – April 2025


Big Picture: “Soft Landing” in Question

While some headlines still lean on soft landing optimism, this week’s data paints a more cautionary picture. Lenders should prepare for a more uneven descent:

  • Inflation Persists in Sticky Categories
    March Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3%, led by energy and food—two cost centers that hit both consumers and SMBs hard. Core inflation remains elevated, keeping rate cuts off the table for now.
    Lender takeaway: Higher input costs + elevated rates = compressed borrower margins and sustained borrowing friction.


  • Labor Market Is Cooling Unevenly
    Job openings continue to slide, and wage growth is softening. While this suggests normalization, it also signals weakening confidence among SMB employers.
    Lender takeaway: Expect slower business expansion, more cautious capital usage, and rising sensitivity to credit terms.


  • Tariff Tension Adds Operational Drag
    New rounds of tariffs are putting upward pressure on supply chain costs—especially for import-reliant businesses in manufacturing, retail, and logistics.
    Lender takeaway: Underwrite deeper. Look beyond net income to spot margin pressure, bloated inventory, or emerging liquidity gaps.

💡 What’s Top of Mind?

We’d love to share your questions, insights, and hot takes in future issues!

Published
April 25th, 2025