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Business Confidence Stories

Australian Stories

Business Confidence stories

Budget wins praise but business warns of skills gaps
Digital Transformation

Budget wins praise but business warns of skills gaps

Business groups welcomed the Budget's productivity push, but warned small firms and agencies still lack the skills to deliver it.

By Sean Mitchell • 9 min read • This month
Australian small businesses see AI boost jobs & revenue
Digital Transformation

Australian small businesses see AI boost jobs & revenue

Australian small firms are reporting higher revenue and hiring from AI, with regular use almost doubling in 18 months to 69%.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • This month
Australia business confidence stays weak as costs rise
Artificial Intelligence

Australia business confidence stays weak as costs rise

Rising fuel and energy bills are squeezing margins and leaving Australian firms facing weaker trading conditions ahead.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • This month
Australian SMEs await Budget on investment & hiring
Manufacturing

Australian SMEs await Budget on investment & hiring

Many small businesses may delay investment and hiring unless the Federal Budget delivers tax relief and help with rising costs.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month
Australian small business sales rise 7.2% in Q1 2026
Partner Programmes

Australian small business sales rise 7.2% in Q1 2026

Momentum stayed firm for Australian small businesses in the March quarter, as sales, jobs and wages all rose despite higher fuel costs.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month
Australian inflation eases, but RBA tightening looms
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 • Last month

Stories from Other Regions

Business Confidence stories

Hong Kong & Singapore upbeat on AI despite cyber risk
Data Protection

Hong Kong & Singapore upbeat on AI despite cyber risk

Supplier-linked attacks and AI-related incidents are testing cyber defences in Hong Kong and Singapore, despite strong confidence in the technology.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last week
Menna & Equifax UK add credit data for SME funding
Fintech

Menna & Equifax UK add credit data for SME funding

The integration aims to help SMEs spot credit issues earlier, as approval rates fall and a GBP £22 billion funding gap persists.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last week
UK chief executives boost M&A as AI drives dealmaking rise
Digital Transformation

UK chief executives boost M&A as AI drives dealmaking rise

EY-Parthenon says dealmaking is shifting towards AI and technology as 87% of UK chief executives expect their M&A appetite to rise.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week
Xero launches AI bootcamp for Kiwi small businesses
Data Protection

Xero launches AI bootcamp for Kiwi small businesses

Privacy worries and mistrust are slowing AI uptake among Kiwi small firms, despite 61% already using the technology, Xero says.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 6 min read • Last week
UK firms brace for May price rises amid freight pressure
Manufacturing

UK firms brace for May price rises amid freight pressure

Freight and energy costs are feeding May price rises, with over 40% of retailers and transport firms planning increases, ONS data show.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • This month
O2 Business rebrand targets UK firms' tech complexity
Unified Communications

O2 Business rebrand targets UK firms' tech complexity

UK business leaders say tangled tech is raising costs and slowing growth, as O2 Business launches with a simpler offer for customers.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • This month
UK small business sales growth slows to two-year low
Financial Systems

UK small business sales growth slows to two-year low

Customer-facing firms were hit hardest as weak demand and higher costs left UK small businesses with their slowest sales growth in two years.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month
Xero sees fifth straight quarter of small business growth
Agricultural Technology

Xero sees fifth straight quarter of small business growth

Improving demand and higher interest-rate relief helped New Zealand small businesses post 3.9% sales growth in the March quarter.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • This month
Canadian small business sales fall 4% in March quarter
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 • Last month
AI adoption lifts NZ business revenue, study finds
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 • Last month
From scramble to certainty: rethinking tax time for Kiwi small businesses
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 • Last month
Scotland tech optimism holds as AI adoption surges
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 • Last month