Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
A new trade credit report by Marsh has highlighted that confidence in resilience remains exceptionally high, while exposure indicators and loss experience point to sustained, broad-based financial strain. Around seven in ten respondents report that financial exposure has increased over the last 12 months across major risk areas, including supply chain disruption (69%), digital disruption…
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The latest Red Flag Alert research from BTG has revealed that the number of businesses in ‘critical’ financial distress in Q2 2026 stood at 53,756, following a year-on-year increase of 9.0% from Q2 2025. More than 53,000 UK businesses are now in critical financial distress, with a further 674,000 firms experiencing significant financial distress. The number of businesses in critical…
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Consumer confidence has risen, with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reporting an eight-point increase in its index to -28 in August. Gen Z showed the most optimism, anticipating improved finances and increased spending. According to BRC-Opinium data, consumer expectations over the next three months of the state of the economy improved to -28 in August, up from -36 in…
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UK inflation hit 2.9 per cent in July, up from 2.6 per cent in June, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This was the first rise in the annual rate of inflation since March. The increase was mainly driven by an increase in the energy price cap. Commenting on the inflation…
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More than half (54%) of UK businesses say AI has created new jobs, according to research from the Lloyds Business Barometer, as firms increasingly view AI adoption as central to growth, skills and competitiveness. 58% of businesses say they plan to increase investment in AI to upskill their workforce in the coming year. Of those…
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Nearly half (46%) of medium-sized UK businesses surveyed by BDO expect rising costs and supply-chain disruption to be their main concerns in the coming months. The continuing Middle East conflict is adding uncertainty around oil, gas and transport costs, forcing some businesses to reconsider investment and pricing decisions. BDO has warned that UK inflation could…
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New research from Howden has revealed that despite new government measures designed to tackle late payments, the issue continues to put significant pressure on UK SMEs. The survey found that nearly one in three SMEs receive late payments often or very often, while more than half experience them at least occasionally. Almost one in five…
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Economic growth in the UK slowed during the second quarter from April to June, as the effects of the Iran war began to show, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a measure of everything produced in the economy, grew by 0.4 per cent, down from 0.6 per cent in…
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Latest British Retail Consortium data has shown that consumer demand slowed in the summer heat wave. Total retail sales increased by 1.3% year on year in July, against a growth of 2.5% in July 2025. This was below the 12-month average growth of 1.8%. Food sales increased by 3.8% year on year in July, against…
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Research by Dun & Bradstreet has found that the UK’s largest businesses are the country’s worst payers, as insolvencies remain at their highest sustained level since the financial crisis The data showed that the largest businesses pay suppliers on time on fewer than one in seven occasions. Businesses employing more than 1,000 people paid suppliers…
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Three in ten small business owners (31%) say they are already using AI to support their enterprises – although 27% say they either have no plans to use it – and a further 21% don’t regard AI as relevant to their business, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance. Whilst some small businesses see…
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CEOs are maintaining confidence in their companies’ growth prospects despite navigating an increasingly volatile business environment marked by geopolitical disruption, rising energy costs and more complex strategic decision-making, according to research by PwC. The survey of hundreds of CEOs across more than 50 countries finds overall confidence in revenue growth has remained unchanged over the…
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Latest research from the Finance & Leasing Association for Q2 has shown an improvement in confidence across the finance and leasing industry, despite continued economic uncertainty. While most respondents (61%) still expected UK economic conditions to weaken over the next 12 months, this was down from 81% in Q1 2026. At the same time, the…
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