## Infrastructure Week, March 2025

Infrastructure Week - Small-Ticket Lending in a High-Cost Economy. Infrastructure Week covers all things lending tech and transformation.

**Top of mind - March 2025**  
_Inflation, volatile energy prices, and tariffs_ - there’s new reality for lenders and borrowers. Amid economic uncertainty, demand for small-dollar loans is reshaping SMB lending. Our new [**white paper**](https://docsend.com/view/k6f658fcypc4w7bk) explores how lenders can scale small-ticket programs profitably with smarter infrastructure, real-time cash flow data, and sharper growth strategies.

### White Paper TLDR: What We’re Seeing and What’s Next
- **Loan sizes:** SMBs want faster, shorter-term capital amid uncertainty.
- **Lenders shifting:** Those focused on larger loans will move into small-dollar space to pursue growth.
- **Cash flow is the new credit:** Real-time performance is the unlock.
- **New entrants:** From fintechs to SaaS platforms, embedded lending is continuing to accelerate.
- **Infrastructure is the battleground:** Automation, data, and digital experiences will define who scales.

[Read out the full report here!](https://docsend.com/view/k6f658fcypc4w7bk)

## 📖 Ned Reading List - March 2025
- [Consumer confidence plummets to lowest level since January 2021](https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/25/economy/us-consumer-confidence-march-recession/index.html) (CNN)
- [U.S. manufacturing is shrinking again as Trump's tariffs set in](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-manufacturing-shrinking-again-trumps-180500577.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALnFdeqBpB-UIGlQUjz2CFzENHj3FS5fqZcF6jsbPaQPxWSQ1WbJqrN7I9Ga1yVUIoAPo0BUMzTzzDDWpy8CYVvsHTc6XacEELef1O7Z_eUZmfdVjeaZpi_7--aO2OlvcJY_n8dNx_mMiydwp6BXXnhYk5UbraNCL5S6ASQtaKm-)(Yahoo Finance)
- [Fed’s Bostic Now Sees Just One Rate Cut This Year Due to Tariffs](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-24/fed-s-bostic-now-sees-just-one-rate-cut-this-year-due-to-tariffs?embedded-checkout=true) (Bloomberg)
- [Small Businesses Are Running Out of Moves in Trump’s Trade War](https://www.wsj.com/business/entrepreneurship/small-businesses-are-running-out-of-moves-in-trumps-trade-war-7e060db4) (WSJ)
- [Small Business Administration to reorganize, cut about 2,700 jobs](https://apnews.com/article/sba-small-business-loeffler-doge-ba0be2d55f65f9a3e0e453d4c72ce6ab) (AP)
- [Bessent Resists DOGE Cuts That Put Low-Income Lending Program Under Fire](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-19/treasury-s-cdfi-loan-fund-under-fire-as-treasury-resists-doge-cuts?embedded-checkout=true)(Bloomberg)
- [Fed’s Kugler Watching Pickup in Prices, Inflation Expectations](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-25/fed-s-kugler-watching-pickup-in-prices-inflation-expectations?embedded-checkout=true) (Bloomberg)
- [Trump tariffs will raise gasoline and electricity prices in the U.S., Canada energy minister says](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/03/trump-tariffs-will-raise-gasoline-electricity-prices-canada-minister.html) (CNBC)

# 💡 What’s Top of Mind?  
We’d love to share your questions, insights, and hot takes in future issues!