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CPA Daily Business News – Friday 23 January 2026

UK borrowing falls, retail spending flickers and confidence battles perception

UK businesses end the week facing a familiar mix of mixed economic signals, political uncertainty and rising insolvency risk. Government borrowing has fallen sharply, helped by higher tax receipts, while retail spending showed a short-lived December bounce driven by online sales rather than renewed consumer confidence. At the same time, investment sentiment toward the UK remains fragile, audit reform has stalled, and insolvency notices continue to mount across construction, property, care and professional services. Global markets have rallied on easing trade tensions, but for SMEs selling on credit, cash flow discipline remains critical.

cpa.co.uk/business-news-23-january-2026/