Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are being significantly impacted by the upending of the global trading environment, propelled by the US administration’s tariff policies, according to new research from independent funder Bibby Financial Services (BFS). BFS’s Trading Places report, which surveyed over 500 UK SMEs that trade overseas, found over half (55%) see…
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The UK could see higher than expected growth due to trade deals agreed with the US and the European Union, with KPMG predicting that growth could hit 1.2% in 2025 as trade agreements lower uncertainty. The UK economic outlook could brighten over the next two years as the economy stands to benefit from easing trade…
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UK-listed companies issued 62 profit warnings during Q1 2025, an 11% year-on-year fall, however the proportion of listed firms to warn in the last 12 months remains high (18%). EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report found that the leading factor behind profit warnings in Q1 was contract and order cancellations or delays, cited in 40% of…
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Small importers have warned that reciprocal tariffs on the US market would ‘wreck’ their business plans, research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows. The UK’s largest business group has today published data showing that one in three (33%) would scale back orders if the UK Government struck back and taxed goods headed from the US…
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A new report by European debt collection specialist Intrum has highlighted that without improved economic conditions, up to 10 million European businesses face potential closure within two years, threatening up to 40 million jobs. Late payments are a key driver of this risk, draining liquidity and limiting SMEs’ ability to invest and grow. In the…
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Global business optimism continues to decline, revealing a 1.3% quarter-over-quarter decline in business optimism according to latest research by Dun & Bradstreet. The fall in confidence follows a sharp 12.9% drop seen in the prior quarter. Persistent global economic uncertainty and rising trade protectionism continue to dampen global business sentiment. While financial confidence dropped 8.6%…
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The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned that a 10% tariff on goods exported to the US will hit UK traders, with two in five businesses which export to the US saying they will suffer a ‘significant negative impact’ from charges. Around a third of British businesses exposed to tariffs are planning to raise…
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has suggested the UK could be heading for a recession, warning that a trade deal may not be enough to prevent a slump in economic growth. Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said “The UK may be heading toward a recession, even if the Government…
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A snap poll of 562 Institute of Directors members following President Trump’s tariffs announcement has found that over a third (37%) of business leaders expect to be impacted by the tariffs and of those, over two-thirds (70%) expect their profits to decrease as a result. In response to the tariffs, 35% of members will be…
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Latest data has shown that in Quarter 1, business closures in the UK surged to their highest level since 2021, this was before the impact of US trade tariffs and the latest date for the government’s increase in National Insurance contributions. According to insolvency notices in the Gazette, 2,718 companies shut down between January and…
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President Donald Trump has set out plans for new import taxes on all goods entering the US, with a baseline tariff on all imports of at least 10% and higher rates for countries that the White House described as the ‘worst offenders.’ While goods from the UK are set to face a new 10% tariff,…
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Latest analysis by Allianz Trade has predicted that global business insolvencies will keep rising over the next two years. Insolvencies rose by 10% in 2024, and are expected to grow by 6% in 2025 and 3% in 2026. This would result in five successive years of increasing insolvencies (2022 – 2026). The UK bucks both…
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A new study from Juniper Research has found the number of Open Banking API calls globally will increase 427%, from 137 billion in 2025. The report predicts Artificial Intelligence (AI) will become increasingly integrated with open banking offerings; creating personalised banking solutions for users for finance management and customisable loan allowances, driving the growth of…
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