Business Confidence stories

Australian business and household sentiment slumped after fuel costs jumped, with CreditorWatch warning of rising insolvency risks if oil markets stay strained.

Business NSW says soaring fuel, freight and supplier costs are forcing 47% of surveyed firms to review staffing, with regional employers hardest hit.

Blue Yonder survey finds supply chain leaders are less confident for 2026, with geopolitical shocks exposing slower response times despite rising AI investment.

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

Late payments are pushing more Australian small firms into debt, draining weeks on chasing invoices and fuelling rising financial stress.

'Imbosster Syndrome' is eroding the confidence of Australian sole traders, with self-doubt stalling key decisions and slowing business growth.

Construction and manufacturing fuel a second straight quarter of growth for Australian SMEs, narrowing the gap with the wider economy.

New Zealand small firms notch strongest sales in three years as December spending surges and easing interest rates speed up payments.

Digital ordering and payment options are influencing behaviour, with more people using QR codes to avoid awkward money conversations with friends.

Trans-Tasman small firms are upbeat and boosting tech and marketing, yet consumers report patchy service and missing digital basics.

Security, privacy and data protection will command the biggest tech spend for Australian retail SMBs in 2026, ahead of AI and global growth.

NZ adds more jobs but works fewer hours as high-paid tech roles, casual shifts and young workers' pay all slide, new data shows.

Global CEOs pin 2026 hopes on APAC growth and soaring AI spend, despite geopolitical risks and investor pressure for faster returns.

Energy bills surge for Australian SMEs as federal rebates end, driving cost cuts, delayed investment and a pivot to digital and AI tools.

Australian SMEs show growing confidence into 2026, with rising revenue and increased digital adoption helping them tackle soaring energy costs and economic challenges.

Duality Technologies partners with Google Cloud to deliver confidential AI using NVIDIA GPUs, enabling secure, scalable large language model training for enterprises.

The Visual Media Association has launched its 2025 survey to benchmark Australia's AUD $15bn print, sign, packaging and visual media sector amid key government reviews.

Australian businesses in 2025 will focus on new hires, staff upskilling, and office upgrades, favouring low-cost, high-impact investments amid tight profit margins.

The VivaTech Confidence Barometer shows 85% of tech firms prioritising AI investment, with US executives most optimistic about national competitiveness.

According to CONTEXT's latest analysis, the PC market is facing a shaky demand downturn but may rebound by 2025 thanks to AI advancements and Windows 11 upgrades.