Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Latest analysis by BDO of retail sales showed that December marked the worst set of total monthly sales figures since November 2024, with total like-for-like retail sales dropping by -1.4% in December. In-store sales fell by -0.5% and online sales by -0.6%, compared to December 2024, as sales volumes declined across channels. This follows disappointing…
Read more
New research from Novuna Business Finance has revealed a five-year peak in the percentage of small business owners (84%) who are starting 2026 with plans to invest in new growth initiatives to make their enterprises stronger for the year ahead Following a challenging trading period in 2025, during which the percentage of small business owners…
Read more
Business confidence in the UK has fallen, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), with only 46% (compared with 48% in Q3) of companies expecting increased sales this year and 24% saying they expect to see a decline in turnover. The survey saw 63% of firms polled cite tax rises as their primary concern,…
Read more
Hospitality leaders say the Budget has failed to deliver real business rates reform, leaving pubs and hotels facing steep increases in their rateable values—some of which could rise fivefold by 2029. They warn this will accelerate closures and push more venues into distress, undermining communities and local economies The analysis from UKHospitality reveals that small…
Read more
SMEs are borrowing more to pay for credit on their insurance, according to new research from Premium Credit. The research, which monitors insurance buying trends, found that one in three SMEs (33%) who use credit to pay for insurance have borrowed more this year than in the previous year. The average amount borrowed was £1,600,…
Read more
Retail confidence has dropped sharply, reaching its lowest point since 2008, according to Confederation of British Industry (CBI) analysis. The CBI’s quarterly measure of business sentiment for the next three months fell to -35 from -10 in August. Retailers anticipate subdued demand as they prepare for a challenging December, with sales expected to decline further.…
Read more
New research has revealed that while SME confidence in Government remains fairly lukewarm, this support is fragile in the face of mounting economic pressures and uncertainty – and may well turn sour without urgent action on tax and costs at the Autumn Budget. The survey of 1,000 SME leaders and decision makers, commissioned by FTSE…
Read more
As many as seven in ten (71%) high-value decisions made by UK businesses are based on incomplete or partial data, according to a new study from EY. The research surveyed 250 leaders of UK companies with revenues above £100 million. In the last year, of these companies’ high-value business decisions – defined as decisions involving…
Read more
Business confidence sank to its lowest level in three years as record high tax worries ravaged firms ahead of next month’s Budget, according to research by ICAEW’s Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) quarterly index. Sentiment in Q3 stood at -7.3, down from -4.2 in the previous quarter. Confidence is now at its weakest level since Q4…
Read more
The percentage of small business owners predicting growth has fallen for the fourth consecutive Quarter to a new five-year low (25%) – and in every industry sector, the percentage of enterprises predicting growth is down on the start of the year, according to new tracking research from Novuna Business Finance. Following last summer’s General Election…
Read more
New data from Millbrook Business Finance has found that four in ten (35%) said access to affordable finance is one of their biggest challenges. The survey data asked SMEs what the single biggest challenge facing their business right now, with 14% highlighting rising operational costs, whilst 14% noted economic uncertainty, and 13% cited late payments. A…
Read more
Latest data from Allica Bank has revealed that 48.5% of brokers have seen an increase in applications over the past six months. That’s up from 40% in Q4 2024, and comes despite a period marred by global uncertainty, trade tensions, high costs, and the introduction of higher employer National Insurance contributions. Only 20.3% of brokers…
Read more
The IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leaders’ optimism in prospects for the UK economy, rose to -61 in August 2025 from -72 in July. The August reading of the Index takes us back to the sort of levels seen immediately after last year’s Budget, having dropped to its worst reading on record…
Read more