Top Trends and Highlights

The Equifax Full-Year 2025 Global Credit Trends report shows the U.S. Market Pulse Index rose to 61.6 as Gen Z momentum grew 0.71%. In Canada, hidden credit fraud reached a significant $1.3 billion total and in Australia investor-backed mortgage growth outside of city centers reached 18.27%. Meanwhile, United Kingdom re-commerce buying expanded 2.6 times over last year.

Investment outside of metro areas surges in Australia

While government incentives drove an 11.2% YoY increase in first-time home buyers, rising property values in city centers pushed more investors towards more rural locales in Australia. Investor-backed mortgage account growth outside of city centers in Australia reached 18.27% in 2025, significantly outperforming the 6.62% growth seen in primary residence accounts.

The $1.3B "Hidden Fraud" Challenge in Canada

Canadian lenders face an estimated $1.3B in "hidden fraud" across credit portfolios, driven by sophisticated "long-con" schemes like auto loan stacking and "bust out" fraud. These fraudulent accounts often bypass traditional security and can lead to ineffective adjudication decisions that hamper overall portfolio growth.

The K-Shaped Divide Grows in the United States

The U.S. economy navigated the complex transition of a deepening K-shape divide in the second half of 2025. The Market Pulse Index average value for the U.S. population was stable at 61.6 in Q4’25. However, even when the Index value stays stable, there is often significant movement and "pivoting" happening within different consumer groups. The group with peak financial resilience—those with a Market Pulse Index value of 80 and higher—grew from 7.96% to 10.47% of the total population, a 32% increase since Q2’23.

The Strategic Rise of Re-Commerce

In the UK, consumers are increasingly treating household goods as liquid assets, with second-hand purchasing growing 2.6x since early 2023 to stretch disposable income. This "circular economy" shift sees 5.1% of consumers now acting as sellers to generate supplemental income, helping to shield their core credit commitments from delinquency.
Glossary of Common Terms & Sources

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