LONGBOAT KEY, Fla.–For many, today marks the beginning of the first work week of 2026, and that begins with uncertainty over what the new year might hold.
The CU Daily has published a compilation of seven different stories that each touched on different forecasts for what lies ahead in 2026. The compilation included predictions for the economy that will have an effect on every credit union and its members.
As the CU Daily reported here, analysts see the U.S. economy cooling but not collapsing, with slower job growth, easing inflation and modest interest-rate cuts forming the backbone of a “soft-landing” outlook that still hinges on big unknowns: trade policy, geopolitics, fiscal decisions in Washington and whether households keep spending after several years of higher prices.
Credit union leaders know they have a stake in all of that and more.
Additional Forecasts
For those who may have missed it, in addition to the economic forecasts below, the CU Daily also other 2026-related previews, including:
- 2026 Forecast: The Auto Sales, Lending Trends to be Watching
- 2026 Forecast: What Companies are Saying About Hiring in New Year
- 2026 Forecast: FASB Puts Two Digital Asset Topics on its Agenda
- 2026 Forecast: How One Large Bank is Deploying Generative AI
- 2026 Forecast: Automobile Prices to Remain High as Loan Terms Get Longer
- 2026 Forecast: Is This a Model for How CUs Might Approach Workforce & AI?
