Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Shop price inflation slowed to 0.9 per cent higher than the previous year in July, down from 1.2 per cent in June, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Inflation on non-food products fell to 0.2 per cent from 0.6 per cent, and overall food price inflation fell from 2.4 per cent from…
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New research by Money.co.uk has found that childcare providers are struggling to break even despite childcare fees increasing. Analysis of 2025 Department for Education data reveals that the average private nursery in England makes just £933.66 profit per child each year — around £78 per month — after operating costs. Far from profiteering, many providers…
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Reductions to business rates and National Insurance plus support with energy costs top concerns – as only 9% of small businesses looking to hire to support growth this summer As the UK welcomes a new Prime Minister and leadership team, 9 in 10 adults (90%) would like to see the Government do more to support…
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New Prime Minister (PM) Andy Burnham has announced a 20 per cent cut to business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues from April. The move is expected to save a typical pub around £1,100 next year and benefit nearly 32,000 venues. The plans will be funded by cracking down on businesses like vape…
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Latest ONS data has shown that the UK consumer price inflation fell from 2.8% to 2.6% in the year to June, its lowest level since March 2025. The figure was below the 2.7% forecast and marked the third consecutive month in which inflation undershot expectations. Lower petrol and diesel prices, easing food inflation and clothing…
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More than half (52%) of SMEs are currently struggling to pay tax bills as the full impact of recent tax increases kicks in, new research1 from Premium Credit shows. The biggest tax bill issue currently is Corporation Tax, which more than a fifth (22%) say they are struggling to pay, while 12% say they struggle…
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Finance leaders have become progressively more optimistic about AI improving their own businesses’ performance, as 73% now report an improvement in AI optimism over the last 12 months, compared to 59% in Q4 2025 and 39% in Q3 2024. Nearly all CFOs (96%) expect to see a rise in investment in digital technology and assets…
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EY-Parthenon’s latest data has shown that FTSE retailers issued five profit warnings in Q2 2026, up from three in the first quarter of the year. This makes 2026 only the third year since 2007 in which the sector has recorded more warnings in the second quarter compared to the first. FTSE retailers issued a total…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 2% in May 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. In the first five months of 2026, new business was 5% higher than in the same period in 2025. The…
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The percentage of small businesses predicting growth has fallen to 24% – its lowest level for 12-years, with significant downturns in the construction (15%), retail (21%) and hospitality (21%) sectors. Whilst small business growth forecasts rose modestly in the north west, they fell in every other region of England and Wales – with the position…
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The UK’s economy returned to growth of 0.1 per cent in May after contracting the previous month, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the three months to May, the economy grew by 0.7 per cent after previously slowing in the second quarter. Growth was driven by the services sector, which…
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UK businesses are under growing strain as supply chain costs surge, with nearly three-quarters (72%) of business leaders reporting increases in the past year – double the level seen over the previous two years (36%), according to RSM research, The data showed that almost a third of businesses said they recovered from price shocks within…
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The next 12 months could see a significant contraction in the small-business and self-employed community, according to new research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). In the second quarter of this year, the proportion of small firms that expect to grow over the next year reached its lowest ever point in the history of…
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