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Business Confidence Stories - Page 4

Global Stories

Business Confidence stories

Late payments push Australian small firms into debt
Fintech

Late payments push Australian small firms into debt

Late payments are pushing more Australian small firms into debt, draining weeks on chasing invoices and fuelling rising financial stress.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 11th Mar 2026
NZ small firms see strongest sales growth in three years
Manufacturing

NZ small firms see strongest sales growth in three years

New Zealand small firms notch strongest sales in three years as December spending surges and easing interest rates speed up payments.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 26th Feb 2026
New Zealand bosses plan pay rises as confidence grows
Human Capital Management

New Zealand bosses plan pay rises as confidence grows

New Zealand employers plan pay rises and richer perks as economic optimism grows, with 84% expecting the outlook to lift staff salaries.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Tue, 24th Feb 2026
Optimistic trans-Tasman SMEs face widening service gap
Digital Transformation

Optimistic trans-Tasman SMEs face widening service gap

Trans-Tasman small firms are upbeat and boosting tech and marketing, yet consumers report patchy service and missing digital basics.

By Melania Watson • 6 min read • Thu, 12th Feb 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Business Confidence stories

'Imbosster Syndrome' hits confidence of sole traders
Digital Transformation

'Imbosster Syndrome' hits confidence of sole traders

'Imbosster Syndrome' is eroding the confidence of Australian sole traders, with self-doubt stalling key decisions and slowing business growth.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Mar 2026
Construction surge powers Australian SME growth in 2025
Manufacturing

Construction surge powers Australian SME growth in 2025

Construction and manufacturing fuel a second straight quarter of growth for Australian SMEs, narrowing the gap with the wider economy.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 5th Mar 2026
US small firms see sales slow but invoice payments rise
Data Analytics

US small firms see sales slow but invoice payments rise

US small firms saw sales growth sink to a two-year low in late 2025, even as invoice payments sped up and cash flow pressures eased.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 5th Mar 2026
Resilience is becoming Canada's new competitive advantage
Digital Transformation

Resilience is becoming Canada's new competitive advantage

Canadian firms are harnessing AI and efficiency to turn tariff shocks and labour shortages into a new edge: resilience-driven growth.

By LSP Chandrashekar • 5 min read • Wed, 4th Mar 2026
Why the positive sentiment despite highest insolvency rate in 15 years
Jobs

Why the positive sentiment despite highest insolvency rate in 15 years

Business confidence is improving, but 2025 still brought New Zealand's highest insolvency tally in 15 years as historic debt hit firms.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Sat, 21st Feb 2026
NZ SMEs lift hours while wage growth softens in January
Jobs

NZ SMEs lift hours while wage growth softens in January

New Zealand SMEs lifted staff hours but eased wage growth in January, leaning on existing rosters as they cautiously test post-holiday demand.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026
Inflation, US debt & AI: key risks for NZ investors
Risk & Compliance

Inflation, US debt & AI: key risks for NZ investors

New Zealand investors are warned AI-fuelled gains face “incredible danger” from US inflation, soaring debt and turbulent midterms ahead.

By Michael McCarthy • 5 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026
Manchester firms delay growth plans amid volatility
Digital Transformation

Manchester firms delay growth plans amid volatility

Manchester's mid-sized firms are stalling investment and expansion, citing volatile costs, policy shifts and tougher access to finance.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Fri, 13th Feb 2026
Cost-of-living pressures reshaping customer spending
Fintech

Cost-of-living pressures reshaping customer spending

Digital ordering and payment options are influencing behaviour, with more people using QR codes to avoid awkward money conversations with friends.

By Shannon Williams • 5 min read • Thu, 12th Feb 2026
Spark & Icehouse launch free AI workshops for SMEs
Digital Transformation

Spark & Icehouse launch free AI workshops for SMEs

Spark and Icehouse will run free nationwide AI and productivity workshops to help New Zealand SMEs lift performance and overcome tech barriers.

By Melania Watson • 4 min read • Thu, 12th Feb 2026
UK tech leaders embrace risk, private equity & global growth
Digital Transformation

UK tech leaders embrace risk, private equity & global growth

UK tech, IT and telecoms leaders grow bolder on risk, eye private equity backing and global expansion despite rising cost pressures.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
Canadian executives back AI despite global jitters
Data Protection

Canadian executives back AI despite global jitters

Canadian bosses bet big on AI for 2026 as global economic optimism lags, embracing autonomous agents while employees resist AI managers.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
Security tops 2026 tech spend for Australian retailers
Data Protection

Security tops 2026 tech spend for Australian retailers

Security, privacy and data protection will command the biggest tech spend for Australian retail SMBs in 2026, ahead of AI and global growth.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 3rd Feb 2026
The tender trap. New rules, real consequences
Digital Transformation

The tender trap. New rules, real consequences

Smaller suppliers and councils face tougher scrutiny in 2026 as new procurement rules demand measurable local benefits and tighter contract management.

By Staff Writer • 14 min read • Mon, 2nd Feb 2026