Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have shown that shop price inflation rose by 1% year-on-year in April, a slowdown from 1.2% in March and below the three-month average of 1.1% Non-Food inflation decreased to -0.1% year on year in April, against growth of 0.1% in March. This is below the 3-month average…
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Mid-market businesses are feeling overwhelmingly optimistic when it comes to their near-term investment in artificial intelligence (AI), according to new research from BDO, the accountancy and business advisory firm. The bi-monthly survey of 500 mid-market businesses revealed that the majority (97%) said they expect to see a return on their investment in AI within the…
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UK retail sales fell sharply over Easter as concerns over the Iran conflict weakened consumer confidence according to data from the Confederation of British (CBI) Industry which showed its retail index dropped to minus 68 in April, the lowest level since records began in 1983. Most retailers reported declining sales and expect conditions to worsen…
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Late payment pressures intensified for businesses in the first quarter of 2026, with a growing number of companies carrying overdue invoices on their books, according to a new report from R3, the UK’s trade body for restructuring, turnaround and insolvency professionals. The report shows that the number of overdue invoices rose to 17.48 million, up…
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UK inflation remained increased to 3.3% in March, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), up from 3.0% in the 12 months to February. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.7% in March 2026, versus a rise of 0.3% in March 2025. Motor fuels made the largest upward contribution…
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Almost half (49%) of the 55 profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies in Q1 2026 cited the impact of policy change and geopolitical uncertainty as a leading factor, according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report. Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East on 28 February, more than two in five (42%) of…
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The UK economy grew by 0.5% in February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the biggest monthly rise in more than two years. The ONS said the services sector, which accounts for more than three-quarters of the economy, grew by 0.5%. Production output also grew by 0.5%, while construction rose by 1%. The…
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The percentage of small businesses predicting growth for the next three months (28%) remains largely unchanged from last quarter (27%) – although 78% of enterprises go into the summer fearing the economic impact that geo-political and economic tensions will have on their businesses, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance. Based on polling a…
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Business lender 365 Finance has reported a sharp rise in the demand for funding from high street businesses, with a staggering 43% increase in restaurants opting for revenue-based finance when comparing Q1 2026 in-house data to Q1 2025. Among SMEs in the hospitality industry that increasingly seek finance, the owners of pubs and bars are…
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Retail footfall in the UK increased by 2.4% in March, driven by Easter shopping, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). However, this boost fell short of retailers’ expectations. Total UK footfall increased by 2.4% in March (YoY), up from -4.7% in February. High Street footfall increased by 2.0% in March (YoY), up from -5.4% in…
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Business optimism among UK CFOs has fallen to a six-year low, according to Deloitte’s latest survey of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs). CFO confidence fell to a net -57% from -13% in the previous quarter, with concerns around energy prices, inflation and interest rates surging in the wake of the situation in the Middle East. As…
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Increasing numbers of businesses are seeking protection against bad debt as they navigate tough trading conditions, according to SME funder, Bibby Financial Services (BFS). BFS’s latest SME Confidence Tracker reveals that the average amount SMEs are owed in unpaid invoices is £66,770 – a 10 per cent increase year-on-year – and 30 per cent have…
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The ICAEW’s Business Confidence Monitor shows sentiment has fallen for a fifth consecutive quarter, reversing earlier signs of recovery. Before the conflict, businesses had reported improving domestic sales and easing inflation, but rising geopolitical tensions have sharply dented optimism. Labour costs and energy price volatility remain the biggest pressures on firms. Business confidence in the…
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