Business Confidence Stories - Page 2

Global Stories

Business Confidence stories

Supply chain confidence falls as geopolitical risk rises

Geopolitical shocks are exposing a growing confidence gap, with only one in five supply chain leaders able to respond within 24 hours.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 1st Apr 2026

Robotics

Entrepreneurs turn to AI for efficiency, not new markets

Entrepreneurs increasingly see AI as a tool for efficiency and cost-cutting, not a springboard to new markets or sustainability goals.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Thu, 12th Mar 2026

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

Stories from Other Regions

Business Confidence stories

Partner Programmes

Canadian small business sales fall 4% in March quarter

Cash flow is tightening for Canadian small businesses as March sales improved only slightly, while payment times lengthened and late bills rose.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Fri, 1st May 2026

Power / Energy

Australian inflation eases, but RBA tightening looms

Fuel costs have pushed headline prices higher again, leaving the Reserve Bank of Australia under pressure to raise interest rates despite softer underlying inflation.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 29th Apr 2026

Data Analytics

AI adoption lifts NZ business revenue, study finds

AI users are already outperforming peers, with New Zealand SMEs earning about NZD $400,000 more and large firms NZD $59.1 million more in FY25.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Tue, 28th Apr 2026

Firewalls

From scramble to certainty: rethinking tax time for Kiwi small businesses

Poor digital confidence is leaving 42% of Kiwi small businesses dreading tax time, as mixed systems and security gaps expose errors.

By Shannon Harris • 4 min read • Fri, 24th Apr 2026

Data Analytics

Scotland tech optimism holds as AI adoption surges

Nearly all Scottish tech firms now use AI, with full adoption doubling to 18% as sales and cashflow improve despite softer confidence.

By Kaleah Salmon • 3 min read • Tue, 21st Apr 2026

Robotic Process Automation

New Zealand firms seek energy certainty to boost investment

Energy uncertainty is delaying spending, with 39 per cent of firms postponing expansion plans as costs and supply stay volatile.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Mon, 20th Apr 2026

Manufacturing

Transport firms warn of conflict-hit supply chains

Concern has surged among UK logistics firms as Middle East conflict raises the risk of supply chain delays and higher shipping costs.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Wed, 15th Apr 2026

Partner Programmes

Australian confidence drops as fuel costs hit sentiment

Households and firms are facing renewed cost-of-living pressure, with petrol prices driving sentiment to levels last seen during the GFC and pandemic.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Tue, 14th Apr 2026