Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The Institute of Directors is calling on the Chancellor to focus on restoring business confidence in his next budget, encouraging private investment and creating the conditions for stronger long-term economic growth. The IoD argues that while the UK economy has delivered stronger growth than many comparable advanced economies in recent years, persistent weaknesses in investment,…
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UK business activity reached its highest level since January 2025 in August, according to the latest report from accountancy and advisory firm BDO. BDO’s Output Index rose to 98.37 as resilient services activity continued to support growth despite ongoing geopolitical and inflationary pressures. Business optimism also improved markedly in August to 94.22, marking the highest…
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Chancellor John Healey has set out his plan to drive growth in the UK. Speaking at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, the Chancellor laid out how he will take an axe to delays holding back growth, from backing British business and giving local leaders more power, to clearing away the delays that hold back…
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New research by Sidetrade has found that US businesses wait an average of 25 days beyond agreed terms to be paid, whilst UK businesses wait 22 days. Across more than US$3.6 trillion in US B2B transactions, businesses are paid in 54 days on average against 29-day terms. Across more than $930 billion in the UK,…
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High street footfall fell over the summer as unusually hot weather discouraged consumers from shopping. British Retail Consortium figures show shopper numbers declined 3.1% year-on-year in August, following a 3.8% fall in July. The weakness adds to pressures on retailers already facing higher taxes, rising operating costs and subdued consumer demand. Total footfall decreased by…
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Latest data from Enterprise Nation has shown that 42% of small firms have been paid late during the past 12 months, compared with a range of 24% to 34% through 2023 and 2024. Among businesses employing staff, the incidence of late payment has more than doubled since summer 2024. The report also cites Small Business…
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The latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Economic Forecast suggests the outlook for the UK will remain uncertain. While the economy was more resilient in Q2 than expected, higher energy and business costs are likely to keep growth weak this year and next. GDP is anticipated to grow by 1% in 2026, which is only…
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Shop price inflation accelerated to 1.5% in August from 0.9% in July, reaching its highest level in two years, according to British Retail Consortium figures. The data shoed that food inflation rose to 2.8% from 2.2%, with ambient food prices climbing 2.5% as higher energy, commodity and input costs increasingly filtered through supply chains. Fresh…
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The IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leaders’ optimism about the UK economy’s prospects, rose to -49 in August, from -63 in July 2026. Conversely, business leaders became slightly less optimistic about the prospects for their own organisations, with confidence falling to -5, from -2 in July. Most of the survey’s underlying indicators…
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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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