Continued declining confidence in the manufacturing sector is the driving force behind three successive quarterly falls in overall economic confidence, according to the latest barometer from the credit services sector.
Manufacturing closed down 2.3 points to 54.9 in Q3’s results from the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI), which is run by the Chartered Institute of Credit Management and sponsored by Tinubu Square. This is the most prominent factor in the headline figure’s 0.8-point fall to 55.3 – a figure that has collapsed by 2.7 points throughout 2016.
In comparison, the services sector is more optimistic in its economic confidence and remains broadly flat at 55.5; although it has also fallen in the first three quarters of 2016 by 2.3 points, most of which (2.2 points) came in Q1.
Further analysis of Q3’s results shows a divergence from some of the UK’s key economic indicators. Compared to 0.5 per cent quarterly growth in GDP and a 2.3 per cent increase in the FTSE All Share Index, the CMI has dropped by 1.4 per cent.
Philip King, chief executive of the CICM, says the CMI’s contrast to the stock markets is uncharacteristic; what the latest results highlight is the difference between today’s beneficial economic circumstances and an uncertain future.
King adds, ‘We are currently seeing a post-Brexit bounce with a falling pound and continued EU membership positively affecting exports.’
‘The confidence of credit managers is clearly being impacted by uncertainty over future trade negotiations and the lack of clarity around the timing of Article 50. It will be interesting to see whether that confidence shifts in Q4 given the recent support announced for Nissan and the UK car industry.’
The survey also asked whether if a sudden contraction in the economy occurred, could credit managers respond quickly to the need to re-evaluate credit terms they had issued.
A third (33 per cent) state they either had no process in place for this scenario, or it would be entirely manual. Asked about the volume and value of credit limit requests, following sterling’s current post-Brexit vote decline, 30 per cent have already had, or were expecting an increase in requests.
Mike Feldwick, Head of Tinubu Square UK, says, ‘Trade Credit Risk Management is a fine balancing act, and whilst current sterling performance is bringing benefits to some, uncertainty over the way Brexit will unfold, is making life for credit managers complicated.
‘They should take the opportunity to ensure they have the systems and processes in place to respond quickly to what will no doubt be a challenging journey ahead, reducing the risks their business is exposed to.’
Overall, regional results are more positive than the headline Index with 10 out of the 12 regions displaying positive results. However, the centre of the UK’s economy, London, has contracted and its CMI figure of 50.2 is well below a 52-point benchmark.
The East Midlands is the only other region below this level at 51.1. Three sectors feature below the benchmark; oil and gas is the most concerning at 41.9; basic resources closed at 49.0; and retail ended at 51.4
‘The CMI is now showing a clear and declining trend that started pre- and is continuing post-Brexit,’ Philip adds. ‘It is important to recognise that while key indicators and markets are reporting good figures, there is disparity with economic confidence from the perspective of credit professionals.’
Further reading on index growth
