Business news

UK inflation is rising again — and energy costs are doing much of the damage.

CPI reached 2.9% in July, household energy bills are forecast to rise again in October, and economists are warning inflation could climb further over the coming months.

There are some brighter signals. Consumer confidence has improved and UK house prices are still higher than a year ago. But for businesses selling on credit, the wider picture remains demanding: high borrowing costs, squeezed household budgets and rising operating expenses can all feed through into slower customer payments.

Today's CPA Business News also covers the potential £36bn annual economic cost of climate change to London by the 2050s, tax and MTD developments, global markets and the latest insolvency notices.

Good credit control becomes more important when costs are rising. CreditCare reports, debtor monitoring and early action on overdue invoices can help businesses identify risk sooner and keep cash moving.

Read the full briefing on the CPA website.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-20-august-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

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

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

More than 53,000 UK businesses are now in critical financial distress, according to new BTG research, with consumer-facing sectors among those seeing the sharpest deterioration.

Today's wider picture reinforces the pressure:

• UK retail sales fell 0.5% in July
• Public borrowing exceeded forecasts
• Energy and inflation risks remain elevated
• Employers face further cost uncertainty
• Another 674,000 businesses are already in significant financial distress

For businesses selling on credit, financial distress rarely begins on the day an insolvency notice appears. Changes in payment behaviour often come first.

Monitoring customer risk, following up overdue invoices promptly and maintaining consistent credit control can make a significant difference.

Read today's full UK Business News briefing for the latest economy, markets and insolvency developments.

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

CPA helps businesses protect cashflow, improve payment performance and recover overdue invoices while preserving customer relationships.

#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #Insolvency #UKBusiness #CreditManagement #BusinessRisk #Retail #Hospitality

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

UK business activity is growing again – but beneath the headline numbers, the pressure on cashflow remains very real.

Today’s figures show:

• UK private-sector growth at a four-month high
• Retail sales down 0.5% in July
• Private-sector employment falling for a 23rd consecutive month
• Restaurant profits down 44%
• 53,756 businesses in critical financial distress
• Government borrowing above expectations
• Continued pressure from energy, employment and financing costs

For businesses selling on credit, that combination matters.

A customer can still be growing its turnover while margins and cash reserves deteriorate. Today’s restaurant figures are a good example: revenues increased, yet profits fell sharply.

That is why credit decisions need to look beyond sales alone.

Our latest CPA Business News briefing looks at the UK economy, employment, hospitality, retail, trade, markets and today’s insolvency notices – and what they mean for businesses trying to protect cashflow.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-24-august-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

CPA helps businesses monitor customer risk, strengthen credit control and recover overdue invoices professionally while preserving customer relationships.

Call 020 8846 0000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

#UKBusiness #SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #Insolvency #Hospitality #Retail #Economy #BusinessRisk

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

UK businesses are facing another day of mixed signals.

Credit card balances have reached record levels and missed payments are rising. Graduate vacancies are down 45.6%. Business groups are warning that employment reforms could add billions to employer costs, while uncertainty over future tax rises remains.

At the same time, new analysis suggests UK productivity may actually be improving faster than official figures indicate.

For businesses selling on credit, the message is straightforward: financial pressure on customers can build long before an invoice becomes seriously overdue.

Today’s CPA Business News looks at:

• Budget and tax uncertainty
• Rising consumer credit pressure
• Employment and recruitment trends
• Climate and supply-chain risk
• Global markets and energy prices
• Today’s latest insolvency notices

Strong credit control, up-to-date customer information and early action remain some of the best protections against avoidable cashflow problems.

Read the full briefing on the CPA website:

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-25-august-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

CPA helps businesses improve payment performance, recover overdue invoices and protect valuable customer relationships.

#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #Insolvency #UKBusiness #CreditManagement #BusinessNews #CreditRisk #Economy

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

Energy costs are back in focus for UK businesses.Ofgem has raised the energy price cap by 4% to £1,723, European LNG prices are at their highest since 2023 and EDF is warning that household energy bills could remain structurally higher through the end of the decade.At the same time:• Youth unemployment has reached 16.4%, its highest since 2014
• More than one million young people are now NEET
• Canada is retaliating against new US tariffs
• Brent crude has fallen towards $86 as talks over the Strait of Hormuz offer some hope of easing supply disruption
• Today’s insolvency notices include 2 administrations and 8 liquidationsFor SMEs selling on credit, volatile costs can quickly become a payment problem somewhere along the supply chain.Strong credit checks, consistent follow-up and early action on overdue invoices can help protect cashflow before pressure becomes bad debt.Read today’s full UK Business News briefing on the CPA website.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-26-august-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/ CPA helps businesses improve payment performance while protecting valuable customer relationships.#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #UKBusiness #Insolvency #EnergyCosts #YouthEmployment #BusinessNews

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

UK businesses are facing pressure from several directions at once.

Industrial electricity costs remain exceptionally high, long-term borrowing costs are elevated and further tax reform is firmly on the political agenda.

Meanwhile, this summer’s heatwaves are beginning to affect the way businesses invest and operate. Barclays says 60% of firms are investing in, or planning to invest in, technology to adapt to extreme heat, while more than a quarter of small businesses reported lost productivity.

There are brighter spots. The warm summer has supported UK staycations, and strong Nvidia forecasts continue to drive confidence in global AI investment.

But for businesses selling on credit, the message is consistent: your customer can look healthy while its costs and cashflow are changing underneath the surface.

Regular credit checks, debtor monitoring and early action on overdue invoices remain essential.

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

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-27-august-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

CPA helps businesses protect cashflow, improve payment performance and recover overdue invoices while preserving customer relationships.

#SMEs #UKBusiness #Cashflow #CreditManagement #LatePayment #Insolvency #EnergyCosts #BusinessRates #Manufacturing #AI

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.