Is AI the Future of the Insurance Industry?
July 19, 2023
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating the evolution of…
Industry Spotlight: Garden Center Industry Cultivates Future Growth
June 26, 2023
Gardeners rejoice – your favorite time of year has arrived! Spring and summer are…
Does the Resurgence in US Manufacturing Match the Hype?
May 2, 2023
The resurgence of American manufacturing is a frequent subject of headlines,…
Industry Spotlight: The Restaurant Industry’s New Normal
March 29, 2023
What a difference a pandemic makes. Three years ago, the coronavirus shuttered…
Federal Government Revises the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
March 2, 2023
We all know that industries evolve to offer new products or services in new ways.…
Fitness Centers Shaping Up for a Rebound
February 2, 2023
They say that beach bodies are made during the winter, and most fitness centers DO…
Cryptocurrency 201: What’s In Crypto’s Future?
January 24, 2023
In this second installment in our two-part blog series on cryptocurrency, we…
Cryptocurrency 101: The Essential Facts About Crypto
January 10, 2023
This is the first installment in our two-part blog series examining the rise of…
That’s a Wrap! Top 10 Industry Profiles for 2022
December 28, 2022
The end of the year is prime time for countdowns and retrospectives. You’ve seen…
Holiday Shopping Season Shaping Up to Be Especially Jolly for Retailers
December 22, 2022
The U.S. retail sector is enjoying a prosperous holiday season. The National Retail…
The Long Game: CHIPS Act to Boost Domestic Production, Address Supply Chain Woes
October 18, 2022
The $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act (also called the Creating Helpful Incentives…
A Look at the Agricultural Sector on National Farmers Day
October 12, 2022
Happy National Farmers Day! We want to start by saying “thank you” to the…
Industry Focus: Dive into Swimming Pool and Spa Retailers
May 13, 2021
Who would have guessed that, in addition to toilet paper and hand sanitizer,…
Industry Focus: Landscaping Services Are In Season
March 24, 2021
Spring is in the air in much of the U.S., and that means it’s go-time for the…
A Look at the Top 25 Industry Profiles for 2020
December 30, 2020
If you’re like me, you are ready to kick 2020 to the curb! It’s been a year when…
Golf Courses Rake in the Green Amid the Pandemic
December 10, 2020
So many businesses have struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic, in part…
Let the Shopping Season Begin: Internet, TV & Mail-Order Retailers
November 13, 2020
You know the big guys — Amazon, eBay, QVC, L.L. Bean — but there are a lot more…
Some Retail and Food Services Sales Gaining, Others Continue to Slump
October 28, 2020
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released data on estimated retail and food services…
July Construction Spending Offers Some Optimism, Some Stagnation
September 3, 2020
Last week, we shared some positive news about residential construction in the U.S.…
Building Confidence: Residential Construction Shows Signs of Hope
July 23, 2020
On Friday, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban…
May Retail & Food Service Data Improves as Shutdowns Ease
June 23, 2020
The U.S. Census Bureau’s May 2020 retail and food service data was released on June…
Industry Spotlight: Grocery Stores
June 15, 2020
The nation’s 41,000 grocery stores have experienced a raucous 2020, due in large…
Math Meets Civics: Education Job Numbers Plummet During Pandemic
May 14, 2020
Earlier this week, I shared with you the detrimental financial impacts the COVID-19…
Why is the Healthcare Industry Suffering Financially During a Pandemic?
May 12, 2020
Last week, I shared with you some of the industries that have been hardest-hit by…
These Industries are Among the Pandemic’s Hardest Hit
April 30, 2020
At Vertical IQ, we recently have focused our research efforts on monitoring the…
Industry Spotlight: Candy Manufacturers
February 13, 2020
The sweet smell of love is in the air…oh wait, no…that’s candy that I smell! The…
Industry Spotlight: Jewelry Stores
December 12, 2019
December is the month when the nation’s 15,200 jewelry stores really shine! Indeed,…
Industry Spotlight: Commercial Equipment Rental and Leasing
August 16, 2018
Despite the credit risks inherent to commercial equipment rental and leasing…
Industry Focus: The Financial Health of Fitness Centers
July 19, 2018
They say that beach bodies are made during the winter, and most fitness centers DO…
Industry Spotlight: Child Care Centers
June 21, 2018
School may be out for the next few months, but thankfully for America’s working…
Industry Focus: All Eyes on Optometry Practices
May 24, 2018
Given recent industry growth and their relatively safe credit risk, optometry…
Industry Spotlight: Convenience Stores
April 5, 2018
In the late 1990s, as a banker in Wilmington, North Carolina, one of my best…
Industry Spotlight: Physician Practices
December 7, 2017
As cold and flu season kicks into high gear around the holidays, a lot of folks…
Industry Spotlight: Machine Shops
November 17, 2017
Look around your office: Every chair, lamp, pen, and coffee mug likely was made…
Industry Spotlight: Breweries
November 2, 2017
Are you a beer aficionado? There’s no doubt that people in the U.S. enjoy knocking…
Industry Spotlight: Calling on Law Offices
August 3, 2017
When I was a private banker in the late ‘90s in Wilmington, North Carolina, I found…
What’s the Big Deal About Dental Practices?
March 23, 2017
Dental practices and other privately-owned medical practices have long been…