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Business Confidence Stories

Australian Stories

Business Confidence stories

RBA may hike again as business & consumer strain grows
Inflation

RBA may hike again as business & consumer strain grows

Rising fuel and borrowing costs are squeezing Australian households and firms, bolstering expectations the Reserve Bank may lift rates again in September.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month
Australian SMEs stay on target as confidence weakens
Digital Transformation

Australian SMEs stay on target as confidence weakens

Despite softer confidence, most Australian SMEs still expect to meet targets, with price rises and technology investment helping offset cost pressure.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • This month
RBA holds rates as softer inflation eases pressure
Digital Transformation

RBA holds rates as softer inflation eases pressure

Softer core inflation has given households and businesses a reprieve, but the RBA says housing and wage pressures still threaten progress.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last month
Australia construction leaders eye growth despite risks
Risk & Compliance

Australia construction leaders eye growth despite risks

Economic uncertainty and labour shortages are tempering optimism, even as 73% of construction leaders say Australia's sector has been stable over the past year.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
CreditorWatch sees RBA raising rates again by November
Artificial Intelligence

CreditorWatch sees RBA raising rates again by November

Higher borrowing costs for households and businesses may be back by November as inflation risks remain tilted to the upside, CreditorWatch says.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last month
Australian small business sales growth slows to 6.5%
Xero

Australian small business sales growth slows to 6.5%

Higher borrowing costs and fuel prices have cooled discretionary spending, leaving consumer-facing firms under pressure as sales growth slowed.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 30th Jul 2026
Early mortgage hardship boosts repayment recovery: Experian
Data Analytics

Early mortgage hardship boosts repayment recovery: Experian

Borrowers who seek help before falling behind on mortgages are far more likely to recover, with 87% back on track within six months.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Tue, 28th Jul 2026

Global Stories

Business Confidence stories

European CFOs turn to AI as geopolitical risk rises
Software-as-a-Service

European CFOs turn to AI as geopolitical risk rises

As volatility bites, European finance chiefs are turning to AI for faster forecasts, tighter cash control and better risk oversight.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 6 min read • Last month
Australia & New Zealand job ads rise after budget reset
Artificial Intelligence

Australia & New Zealand job ads rise after budget reset

Hiring demand across commercial teams strengthened as new financial-year budgets were released, lifting active go-to-market roles to 25,031 in July.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month

Stories from Other Regions

Business Confidence stories

Builders' co-op calls for major reform as industry struggles
Small Business

Builders' co-op calls for major reform as industry struggles

Construction activity has slumped to its lowest level since 2015, prompting calls for faster consents and fairer liability rules.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 4 min read • Last month
Malaysia AI adoption rises to 38% as AWS flags gaps
Software-as-a-Service

Malaysia AI adoption rises to 38% as AWS flags gaps

Nearly a million Malaysian firms took up AI in the past year, but most are still using basic tools rather than scaling them.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
New Zealand construction confidence slips but stays high
Supply Chain

New Zealand construction confidence slips but stays high

Rising costs, labour gaps and project delays are squeezing margins even as 84% of construction leaders still expect growth over five years.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Last month
Canadian SMEs boost AI spend as productivity woes bite
Software-as-a-Service

Canadian SMEs boost AI spend as productivity woes bite

Productivity pressures are forcing Canadian SMEs to pair cautious hiring with heavier AI spending, even as optimism about growth stays firm.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Last month
UK small business sales & hiring growth slow again
Xero

UK small business sales & hiring growth slow again

Weak demand, higher fuel costs and slower payments are squeezing cash flow at small firms, with jobs growth at a near two-year low.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Fri, 31st Jul 2026
Canadian small business sales fall for third quarter
Data Analytics

Canadian small business sales fall for third quarter

Cash-flow pressures are mounting for Canadian small firms, with Xero data showing sales fell 0.6% year on year in the June quarter.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Fri, 31st Jul 2026
UK SMEs miss GBP £54 billion as finance confidence dips
Productivity

UK SMEs miss GBP £54 billion as finance confidence dips

Confusion and mistrust are leaving thousands of SMEs unable to fund expansion, with Portman estimating a GBP £54 billion hit to revenue.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 30th Jul 2026
UK SMEs cut R&D after tax relief reforms, survey finds
Manufacturing

UK SMEs cut R&D after tax relief reforms, survey finds

Many firms have scaled back research, hiring and projects after HMRC tightened the UK's R&D tax relief rules, a survey finds.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Mon, 27th Jul 2026