Business news

UK inflation is back above 3% — and this time much of the pressure is coming from fuel, transport and energy.

August CPI rose to 3.1%, private-sector wage growth has slowed to 2.9%, and oil remains above $100 a barrel.

For SMEs, that combination matters.

Higher supplier and delivery costs can arrive immediately, while customers may take longer to pay as their own finances tighten.

Today’s CPA Business News looks at:

• Rising UK inflation and fuel costs
• A softer labour market
• Pressure ahead of the October Budget
• Oil, currencies and global markets
• Today’s UK insolvency notices

CPA helps businesses protect cashflow through CreditCare credit reports, debtor monitoring and professional Overdue Account Recovery, helping secure payment while protecting valuable customer relationships.

Read the full update on the CPA website.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-16-september-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #UKBusiness #Inflation #EnergyCosts #Insolvency #BusinessNews

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UK inflation is moving higher again and businesses need to watch what happens next.

CPI rose to 3.1% in August, driven by sharply higher petrol and diesel prices. With energy costs still elevated, some economists now expect inflation to move above 4% in the months ahead.

For SMEs, that matters well beyond the headline inflation number.

Higher energy, fuel and borrowing costs put pressure on margins throughout the supply chain and financially stretched customers can quickly become slower-paying customers.

Today’s CPA Business News looks at:

• Inflation and the outlook for interest rates
• Growing pressure ahead of the October Budget
• Global markets following the latest US rate rise
• Oil remaining above $100 a barrel
• Today’s UK insolvency notices

Strong credit control becomes even more important when costs are rising.

CPA’s CreditCare credit reports and debtor monitoring can help businesses identify changing customer risk, while our Overdue Account Recovery Service provides a professional and considerate route to recovering overdue invoices while protecting valuable customer relationships.

Read the full briefing on the CPA website.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-17-september-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #UKBusiness #Inflation #InterestRates #Insolvency #BusinessCosts #EnergyPrices

Access to finance remains a challenge for many UK SMEs, but borrowing is only one part of the cashflow equation.

The FCA has highlighted complex applications, difficulty comparing finance options, high-cost alternative lending and concerns around personal guarantees.

At the same time, Bank Rate remains at 3.75%, inflation could move back above 4%, and businesses face another uncertain Budget.

For businesses selling on credit, strong credit management matters.

Know who you are trading with.
Monitor changing customer risk.
Act quickly when invoices become overdue.
Keep cash moving before borrowing becomes the only option.

Today's CPA Business News also covers retail sales, productivity, the Bank of England, tax policy, global markets and the latest UK insolvency notices.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-18-september-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

CPA helps Members protect cashflow through CreditCare, debtor monitoring and our professional, considerate Overdue Account Recovery Service.

#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #BusinessFinance #Insolvency #UKBusiness #InterestRates

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UK businesses begin the week with a mixed picture.

Retail sales rose 0.5% in August, thousands of small firms could benefit from expanded business-rates relief and confidence among mid-sized businesses is improving.

But borrowing costs remain high, the Government's fiscal headroom has narrowed sharply and further interest-rate pressure could affect both businesses and their customers.

For companies selling on credit, that makes customer monitoring and prompt action on overdue invoices increasingly important.

CPA helps businesses strengthen credit control through CreditCare credit reports and debtor monitoring, while our Overdue Account Recovery Service helps secure payment professionally and considerately while protecting valuable customer relationships.

Read today's full UK Business News briefing on the CPA website.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-21-september-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

#SMEs #UKBusiness #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #Insolvency #BusinessRates #Retail #InterestRates #BusinessNews

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UK businesses are facing another mixed day.

Government borrowing has reached £77.3bn in the first five months of the financial year, household confidence has weakened and concerns over job security are growing.

There is some relief from energy markets, with Brent crude falling below $100 a barrel, while renewed optimism around AI has driven a sharp rally in semiconductor shares.

For businesses selling on credit, the important question remains the same: how financially strong are your customers today?

Economic headlines can improve while individual companies are already experiencing pressure.

CPA helps businesses monitor customer risk through CreditCare and strengthen payment performance. Where invoices become overdue, our Overdue Account Recovery Service provides a professional and considerate route to securing payment while preserving valuable customer relationships.

Read today’s full UK Business News briefing for the latest economic, market and insolvency developments.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-22-september-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #Insolvency #UKBusiness #BusinessNews #AI #EnergyCosts #Economy

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UK businesses are getting another reminder that cost pressure and credit risk are closely connected.

Today’s developments include:

• UK borrowing of £18.3bn in August, above the OBR forecast
• Ineos halting production at three Hull chemical plants amid high energy costs
• Fast-growing companies saying recruitment costs are restricting expansion
• Continued uncertainty around tax and business costs
• 28 new insolvency notices across administrations, liquidations and winding-up petitions

For businesses selling goods or services on credit, the important question is what these pressures are doing to customers’ ability to pay.

CPA helps businesses monitor customer risk through CreditCare and strengthen their credit-control processes.

And where invoices become overdue, CPA’s Overdue Account Recovery Service provides a professional and considerate route to securing payment while protecting valuable customer relationships.

Read today’s full UK Business News briefing on the CPA website.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-23-september-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #Insolvency #UKBusiness #CreditManagement #EnergyCosts #BusinessCosts #Manufacturing #Economy