Cover for the July 2026 PYMNTS Intelligence and i2c report, The Emerging Middle Market Playbook. PYMNTS Intelligence reports how payment and credit gaps slow middle-market growth across five major U.S. industries.

Slow Credit Access Holds Growing Businesses Back

The Emerging Middle Market: How Middle-Market Businesses Pay, Borrow and Scale

PYMNTS Intelligence surveyed 1,011 U.S. businesses across five industries to see how payment systems and credit access shape growth. The findings reveal where slow funding, high costs and disconnected tools leave companies short of cash and unable to act on new opportunities.

Inside the July Playbook
  • Payment provider count connects to cash flow pressure across five industries.
  • Credit speed can shape growth even when funding is already available.
  • Financing choices change as businesses move from early growth to greater scale.

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    The Emerging Middle Market

    The Emerging Middle Market: When Operational Complexity Grows Faster Than Financial Infrastructure The Emerging Middle Market: When Operational Complexity Grows Faster Than Financial Infrastructure