Payment practices trends

US business response to shifting trade policies

Our survey of companies across Canada, Mexico and the US reveals that while trade credit use is expanding, businesses remain cautious amid persistent concerns over overdue payments, bad debts and economic uncertainty

Tighter access to finance, uncertainty, and geopolitical turmoil shift focus from growth to cash flow protection

The Barometer reveals deteriorating payment behaviour for B2B transactions in Western Europe

Dutch B2B suppliers operate in a business environment where payment discipline is strong but rising economic and geopolitical pressures make customer payments less predictable

Belgium shows growing strain in B2B payments, edging closer to higher risk levels seen across Western Europe

As economic uncertainty remains high and trading conditions volatile, Spanish businesses shape B2B payment risk management around cash flow protection

Liquidity pressure is higher in Germany than Western Europe due to tight bank lending, trade shocks, and rising costs, making cash and payment risk management critical

As borrowing costs rise in response to inflation shifts across the Nordic region, growth risks are building, putting increasing pressure on corporate liquidity

As exports remain weak and energy prices rise, inflation and competitiveness pressures persist. Austrian firms respond by tightening their focus on working capital protection

Amid rising operating costs and tighter access to finance, businesses in Greece are turning more to supplier credit to keep B2B trade moving

Italian firms face liquidity stress, as insolvency risk rises amid higher costs, tighter financing and weaker growth, further straining cash flow

Swiss firms expect ongoing pressure on working capital in the short term due to an uncertain economic and trade outlook undermining business confidence

An uncertain domestic economic outlook and global trade developments are set to weigh on payment behaviour, increasing risk in Ireland’s open B2B economy

Across CEE, firms struggle with cash flow planning at a time where insolvency expectations are rising

Polish firms expect inflation and cost pressures to cloud B2B payment risk outlook, increasing delays as tighter cash flow affects businesses across supply chains

Czech firms rely heavily on B2B trade credit under tight control but face rising delays and concentrated payment risk

Strong payment discipline on the surface hides payment risk hotspots that need close attention and proactive risk management