Personal insolvencies up but firms’ woes fall
VOLUNTARY insolvencies surged in the last three months, official figures showed yesterday.
The increase pushed up overall insolvencies by five per cent on the year to 27,029.
But the fastest increase in four years in fact shows the economy was recovering, analysts said.
“Now property prices are rising, creditors are more likely to think about recouping long-standing debts,” said Matthew Chadwick of BDO.
“A continuing rise in the number of personal insolvencies in the next 12 to 18 months is therefore likely.”
Another sign of the economic recovery was a fall in business insolvencies.
The rate of corporate insolvencies in the first half of the year fell to 0.44 per cent, from 0.47 per cent a year earlier, according to Experian.
The drop was slightly faster in London, from 0.48 per cent to 0.44 per cent.
Big firms also saw a marked improvement. For businesses with more than 500 staff, the rate fell from 0.67 per cent to 0.5 per cent.
“Improving business confidence and rising market demand is underpinning a greater willingness among firms to employ more people, which is good news across the UK,” said Experian’s Max Firth.