Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Retail footfall has declined for the sixth consecutive month, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Total activity fell by 0.7% in October, led by drops in shopping centre and retail park footfall. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said “While overall footfall fell for the sixth consecutive month, there was some…
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The Bank of England has maintained interest rates at 4% following a close vote by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee voted in a 5-4 split in favour of holding the rate, with four members preferring to cut rates by 0.25% to 3.75%. Commenting on the Bank of England’s decision to hold…
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The latest IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism in prospects for the UK economy, remained at historic low levels of -73 in October 2025, little changed from -74 in September, which was the lowest reading of the Index on record. Business leader’ confidence in their own organisations crept up to ±0,…
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Thousands of small businesses could close over the next year due to rising tax bills and falling revenues, according to an Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). survey. Thirty per cent of small firms expect to downsize or shut, while 55% report lower incomes. FSB’s Small Business Index (SBI) for Q3 shows overwhelming pessimism, with the…
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Latest Red Flag Alert data has revealed a 78% year-on-year increase in ‘critical’ financial distress as higher taxes on businesses, economic uncertainty and inflation weighed on the UK economy. As of 30th September 2025, 55,530 companies were in ‘critical’ financial distress, a 12.6% rise on the previous quarter (Q2 2025: 49,309). Notably, this rise in ‘critical’…
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A proposed £1.7 billion business rates tax increase on large businesses could jeopardise 120,000 jobs, industry leaders have warned. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and UK Hospitality have expressed concerns over the Chancellor’s plans to raise business rates for superstores, hotels, and restaurants, arguing that it could lead to site closures. The proposals could mean…
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Latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has shown that inflation held at 3.8 per cent in the year to September. Core Inflation came in at 3.5% in the 12 months to September, down from the 3.6% in August and below the forecast 3.7% forecast by the market Commenting on inflation figures for September, ONS Chief…
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RSM UK is urging businesses to be fully prepared for a cyber-attack, as recent figures from the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) show a worrying rise in ‘nationally significant’ cyber incidents. These attacks, which can cause significant business disruption and financial loss for businesses and consumers, have more than doubled already this year. Cyber-attacks are…
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One in five of the 64 profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies during Q3 2025 cited the impact of weaker consumer confidence, the highest proportion recorded for this cause since 2022 and up from just 6% during the same period last year, according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report. While 19% of all profit warnings referenced falling…
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The UK economy grew by 0.1 per cent in August, according lates to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, after contracting by 0.1 per cent in July. The data comes ahead of the Budget next month and new forecasts by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) which have said that the Chancellor Rachel Reeves…
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UK SMEs say specific Government initiatives designed to help them survive and grow don’t go far enough, according to new research from independent funder, Bibby Financial Services (BFS). The Q3 2025 SME Confidence Tracker, which surveys 1,000 UK SMEs, reveals that over half (52%) of small businesses believe measures such as the Fair Payment Code,…
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Rising insolvencies and supply chain shocks are quickly depleting emergency cash cushions, according to trade credit insurer Atradius. The report shows that UK SMEs face a widening resilience gap— the difference between the cost of escalating business risks and the limited accessible liquidity they hold to withstand them. Cash buffers that once offered protection are…
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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…
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