Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Business bankruptcies held broadly steady in 2025, maintaining a three‑year plateau of between 24,000 and 25,000 cases, reported annually according to new analysis from Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business data and analytics. While failures remain significantly above pre‑pandemic averages, the levelling‑off marks a period of relative stability following the sharp adjustments…
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Borrowers face £4.6K payment shock as fixes with the average mortgage rate hitting 5.50% for the first time since August 2024 according to new market analysis by Moneyfacts. The data showed that the rate rose from 4.89% on Monday, 2nd March 2026, to 5.50% on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. As a result, the typical annual cost…
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Business energy costs are set to soar, with electricity bills increasing by an average of 10% to 30% since late February, depending on the sector and the size of the organisation. Gas price rises are steeper still, with Cornwall Insight forecasts showing bill increases of between 25% and 80%, as the ongoing conflict in the…
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Consumer confidence in the UK has reached an all-time low, according to analysis by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) survey conducted by Opinium. The survey, taken from March 10 to March 13, revealed a drop in consumer expectations for the economy to -53, down from -30 the previous month. Personal finance expectations also fell to…
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UK inflation remained at 3% in February, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.4% in February 2026, the same rate as in February 2025. Clothing made the largest upward contribution to the monthly change to CPI annual rates; motor fuels made the…
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A graduate who grew up in deep poverty will earn 5%, over £2,800 a year, more than a more privileged peer working at the same firm with an equivalent degree a decade after graduation, highlighting the scarring effect of childhood poverty, according to new research published by the Resolution Foundation. The long shadow – funded…
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More than 12 million adults with credit products aren’t confident they understand APR, one of the most important measures of borrowing cost, according to new research from Creditspring. The data also suggests that millions of UK adults are using loans, credit cards, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products without fully understanding key terms or…
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Council tax bills across England and Wales are expected to rise by an average of 5% as local authority finances are further stretched. Debt charity, StepChange says this will exacerbate existing cost-of-living pressures as household budgets are forced to stretch further. The debt charity is warning that the expected rise in council tax rates will…
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Renters are now handing over 39% of their monthly take-home pay to their landlords, on average. That’s the equivalent of two days a week worth of work being spent purely on rent according to new research by Confused.com home insurance, which found that the average monthly rent cost is now £839. Although for some, this…
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Latest figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) fell by 6% in January 2025 compared with the same month in 2025. In the twelve months to January 2026, new business was 1% higher than in the same period in 2025. The…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew by 3% in January 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. In the twelve months to January 2026, new business in this market was 6% higher than in 2024. The credit card and personal loans sectors together…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 19% in January 2026. Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Director of Consumer & Mortgage Finance and Inclusion at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer car finance new business volumes fell 1% in January 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. The corresponding value of new business was 3% higher over the same period. In the twelve months to January 2026, new business volumes grew by…
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