Business news

Extreme heat is becoming an economic issue as well as a weather story.

UK electricity prices have jumped as another heatwave raises demand, while the power grid is preparing for an unusual additional challenge from this evening's solar eclipse.

Meanwhile:

Construction weakness could push June GDP into contraction.
Consumer confidence has reached a 21-month high.
Around 90,000 London professional jobs could move into regional economies over five years.
Brent crude remains close to $90 as the Strait of Hormuz stays closed.
Today's insolvency notices include seven administrations, six liquidations and two winding-up petitions.

For businesses selling goods or services on credit, the common thread is cashflow. Rising costs can quickly affect customers' ability to pay, which makes current credit information, consistent monitoring and early action on overdue invoices increasingly important.

CPA helps businesses protect cashflow while preserving valuable customer relationships.

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

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-12-august-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

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

#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #UKBusiness #Insolvency #EnergyCosts #Heatwave #Economy #BusinessRisk

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The UK economy grew 0.4% in Q2, with stronger business investment, resilient services, hot weather and the World Cup helping activity.

But underneath the headline growth figures, businesses are still facing a complicated picture.

Industrial production weakened. Employment reforms could add billions to business costs. Energy disruption linked to the Iran conflict could push inflation higher again. And customers themselves continue to face higher household and borrowing costs.

For businesses selling on credit, that combination makes cashflow discipline increasingly important.

Today's CPA Business News looks at:

UK GDP and June's surprise growth
Employment reform costs
The outlook for inflation and interest rates
Business rates and Making Tax Digital
The UK housing market
Global markets, currencies and commodities
Today's insolvency notices

CPA helps businesses protect cashflow through CreditCare reports, customer monitoring, credit control support and professional recovery of overdue invoices — while protecting valuable customer relationships.

Read today's full UK Business News update on the CPA website:

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-13-august-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

#SMEs #UKBusiness #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #Insolvency #UKGDP #BusinessCosts #Economy #SmallBusiness

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The UK economy grew 0.4% in the second quarter — but the headline number only tells part of the story.

Extreme heat is estimated to have already cost the economy around £6bn, hospitality businesses are warning about further employment-cost pressures, and the Government is considering a major shake-up of business rates.

Meanwhile, oil prices are rising again as tensions with Iran threaten global energy supplies.

For businesses selling on credit, changing conditions can show up first in customer payment behaviour. Strong credit information, effective monitoring and prompt action on overdue invoices remain essential.

See the full blog:

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-14-august-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

#SMEs #UKBusiness #Cashflow #CreditManagement #LatePayment #Insolvency #BusinessRates #Hospitality #UKWeather #EnergyPrices #Economy

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UK businesses begin the week with cost pressure returning to the agenda.

Inflation is expected to rise to 2.9%, energy prices remain vulnerable to developments in the Middle East and almost half of medium-sized businesses surveyed by BDO say rising costs and supply-chain disruption are their biggest near-term concerns.

Housebuilding provides another warning sign. Profits at the UK's largest listed developers are forecast to fall 12% this year, despite political pressure to accelerate construction.

For businesses selling goods or services on credit, these pressures matter because your customer's rising costs can quickly become your late payment.

Today's CPA Business News also covers employment reform, tax uncertainty, global markets and 57 new insolvency notices.

Read the full briefing and keep a close eye on the businesses you trade with.

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


CPA helps businesses protect cashflow through CreditCare reports, debtor monitoring, credit-control support and professional overdue-account recovery.

#SMEs #UKBusiness #Cashflow #LatePayment #CreditManagement #Insolvency #Inflation #Construction #Housebuilding #EnergyCosts

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UK businesses appear to be putting recruitment on hold.

Vacancies have fallen to their lowest level in more than five years, with smaller firms pointing to employment costs, energy bills and wider operating pressures.

At the same time:

Household confidence has weakened again.
Long-term borrowing costs are rising globally.
Oil is back above $85 for WTI and $91 for Brent.
Private credit markets are showing signs of increased stress.
Today's insolvency notices include six administrations and 13 liquidations.

For businesses that sell on credit, these developments matter because financial pressure often appears first in payment behaviour.

A previously reliable customer paying a little later may be an early warning rather than an administrative inconvenience.

Credit checking, customer monitoring and acting quickly on overdue invoices can make a meaningful difference.

CPA helps businesses protect cashflow while maintaining the customer relationships they depend on.

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

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

#SMEs #Cashflow #LatePayment #Insolvency #UKBusiness #CreditManagement #BusinessConfidence #Employment #InterestRates #AI

UK inflation is moving in the wrong direction again.

Headline CPI rose to 2.9% in July after household energy bills jumped 13%, while long-term borrowing costs remain elevated and UK job vacancies have fallen to their lowest level in more than five years.

At the same time, personal insolvencies rose 14% year-on-year in July and company insolvencies increased 5% from June.

For businesses selling on credit, these pressures matter because rising costs rarely stop with your own business. They can also weaken customers' cashflow and change payment behaviour.

Today's CPA Daily Business News looks at the inflation figures, borrowing costs, employment, insolvencies, global markets and the risks businesses should be watching.

When conditions become more difficult, early credit checks, debtor monitoring and prompt action on overdue accounts can make a significant difference.

CPA helps businesses improve cashflow while protecting the customer relationships they depend on.

Read the full update on the CPA website.

cpa.co.uk/uk-business-news-today-19-august-2026-economy-markets-insolvencies/

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

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