Atradius Payment barometer
Atradius is performing various investigations into credit management and payment behaviour in Europe. The payment barometer offers Atradius greater insight into how long it takes for your customers to actually make payment. European companies thus supply data about the payment behaviour of their national and international business partners and share their opinions about credit management in general.
This year’s latest payment barometer shows that international B2B commerce is facing many challenges. Although respondents generally receive payments before the average payment date, the percentage of invoices that had exceeded the expiry data was between 20% and 35%. Although the worst of the recession appears to be behind us, some European customers continue to have problems meeting their payment obligations. Over three-quarters of all respondents mentioned that insufficient access to funds was the main reason for their customers’ payment arrears. Further, there was also a slight increase in ‘Days Sales Outstanding’ (DSO).
Click here for more information about the Atradius Payment barometer. Credit Managers’ Index
The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) is based on a monthly survey amongst credit and collection professionals, who are members of the National Association of Credit Management (NACM). They are asked to rate favorable and unfavorable factors in their monthly business cycle.
This month the CMI is lower than it was in over a year, it dropped from July’s 53.9 to 52.7. A number above 50 confirms a expansion, which is the only positive aspect of this month’s results. But the unfavorable factors have shown a negative tendency. The biggest declines were in accounts placed for collection and dollar amounts beyond terms. Although there are signs of distress among customers, the number of bankruptcies did not increase significantly and there was no acceleration in the rejection of credit applications. Companies were hoping for a better economic situation in the second half of the year, but this economic growth did not come which resulted in companies swiftly going into trouble.
If you want to know more about the Credit Managers´ Index or you want to view the whole report,
click here.