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Lenders anticipate volatility and uncertainty for the US economy with deteriorating confidence in the near-term, according to a new report from Phoenix Management.

Its quarterly report, called Lending Climate in America, is based on responses from commercial banks, finance companies and factors across the country.

It indicates lenders’ confidence decreased in Q1 2019. The majority of lenders, 56%, reported that shaky outlooks abroad and domestically are concerning, and 2019 will be a year of economic volatility and uncertainty.

Top of the list for concern is retail trade, cited by 82% of respondents, while 33% of lenders surveyed believe construction will experience the greatest volatility over the next six months; 26% cite manufacturing.

Michael Jacoby, senior managing director and shareholder of Phoenix, said: “The results from the Q1 2019 survey indicate lenders are still pessimistic about the US economy in the near-term. This deteriorating confidence was further supported by a forecasted, decreased GDP rate, along with high expectations for 2019 to be year of economic volatility and uncertainty in the US.”