Q1 2026 Equifax Business Market Pulse shows low-risk borrowers consolidate demand enquiries while sub-prime entities accelerate shopping activity to secure credit.
Amid market speculation concerning economic stability, the Equifax Consumer Market Pulse provides some encouraging signs. Q1 2026 data shows a fair degree of momentum behind consumer activity, with this resilience being an important buffer protecting the Australian economy.
Economic pressures continue to serve as a primary catalyst for financial fraud. The Equifax Fraud Index Report shows a 4% growth in fraud listings over the 2025 calendar year (vs same time in 2024), as rising financial strain heightened consumer vulnerability, making individuals easier targets for scams and money muling.
New insights from the Equifax Fraud Index Report – 2025 year in review reveals Australian lenders spent 2025 fighting an ongoing battle against fraudsters, successfully preventing over $1.5 billion worth of reported fraudulent financial applications before they occurred.
Highlights:
Mitigate the surge in AI-generated digital forgeries by moving from document-based checks to source-verified payroll data Combat sophisticated salary staging and liar loans with an automated, single source of truth Establish digital trust at the point of contact to protect your organisation from credit and compliance risks.
AMP Bank has transformed its broker experience with a new origination platform that includes the automation of income verification. By integrating Equifax Verification Exchange - a direct-source data model that provides instant, digital access to verified income and employment data - AMP Bank has significantly reduced approval times and strengthened its defences against fraud.
Mortgage demand hits four-year high as a second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth for credit cards is observed and most prominent among younger Gen Z’s.
The latest Equifax Business Market Pulse for Q4 2025 reveals a multi-speed recovery. Large businesses are leading the way on credit demand growth, with an observed increase in overall demand reaching heights of up to +19.4% (trade credit) in some sectors, such as hospitality.
