News release
Business sector’s debt stress levels tick up, Experian reveals
South African businesses experienced growing debt stress levels in the second quarter of 2012 – to break a downward trend in force from 2010.
Statistics sourced and analysed by Experian, a leading global information services company, show that both average debtors’ days, as well the debt age ratio – the ratio of debt owed older than 90 days as a percentage of debt owed under 60 days – accelerated in Q2.
Average debtor’s days for businesses rose from 48,8 in Q1 2012 to 51,3 days in Q2. The debt age ratio showed an increase based on the fact that debt owed in the 90-120 days and 120-plus days categories showed a relatively sharp increase in year-on-year growth in Q2, while growth in debt owed in the categories less than 90 days slowed down.
The increase in Q2 is the first increase after both indicators followed a mostly downward trend from 2010.
“However,” says the report, compiled in conjunction with Econometrix, the Johannesburg-based economics research unit, “while this might appear alarming at first, it should not be seen as a particularly severe deterioration. In addition, it does not yet incorporate the benefit of the most recent interest rate reduction in July. The impact of the latest reduction in interest rates will only be visible in the Q3 indicators.”
The analysis reveals that the initial impetus to the improvement in business credit health had stemmed from the sharp fall in interest rates through 2009 and 2010, with businesses and consumers’ balance sheets benefitting from 38-year lows in interest rates.
In the wake of the intensification of the Eurozone debt crisis and the fears that existed a few months ago that Greece would leave the Eurozone, consumer and business sentiment surveys have suggested that confidence in the South African economic outlook has also deteriorated in recent months – a phenomenon compounded by the SA Reserve Bank’s decision to reduce interest rates early in July.
“However,” says Michelle Beetar, MD of Experian SA, “analysis of the Q2 data suggests that economic growth during that quarter might well have accelerated significantly compared with Q1. All the sectors, with the exception of manufacturing showed improved performances in Q2.
“Overall, therefore, one suspects that the actual level of economic activity has tended to confound the pessimistic assessments garnered from confidence surveys.”
Be that as it may, Experian concludes that economic growth may eventually subside late this year – for reasons that include the impact of the global economic slowdown.
“As it is, the slower growth in exports has resulted in a deterioration in the country's terms of trade which is beginning to weigh down on domestic economic growth.”
Also contributing to the prospect of an economic slowdown late in the year is the rapid growth in consumer spending, which has been partly linked to an explosion of unsecured lending. And providers of such lending have become a little more cautious in recent times.
Even so, Experian is confident that a reduction in growth of consumer spending and, even partial progress towards the implementation of government's large-scale infrastructural investment projects, is bound to provide some stimulus to domestic economic growth.
The information services group identifies the extent to which private sector investment supplements public investment in promoting more rapid long-term economic growth as a “big uncertainty”.
“Some will argue that private sector investment is already languishing as a result of global uncertainties and concerns about the possibility of nationalisation and increased government interference in the economy.”
An analysis of the data by sector in Q2 reveals that the wholesale retail and trade sector accounted for the largest share of total debt owed by businesses to business with a 31,2% share, followed by the transport sector at 12.% and mining with 11,5% .
ENDS
Natasha Horwitz Experian South Africa 011 799 3400 Natasha.Horwitz@experian.co.za
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Jonathan MahapaMeropa Communications +27 11 506-7333 |
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Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.
Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2012 was US$4.5 billion. Experian employs approximately 17,000 people in 44 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and São Paulo, Brazil.
For more information, visit
http://www.experianplc.com
.
News release
Avoid credit heartburn…check your credit status
Johannesburg, 22 November 2012 – Analysts are predicting festive season sales to be brisk this December, but consumers should double check their credit rating before spending big this festive season a leading information services company has warned.
Experian South Africa says consumers should be armed with all the necessary information to ensure they have access to the funds they need, but to also prevent them from overspending.
Professional services group Adcorp is expecting “a strong seasonal peak” in employment between November 2012 and February next year mainly as a result of a “resilient” retail sector.
Loane Sharp, Adcorp’s labour economist, this week observed: “The retail sector is doing strikingly well and all of the sectors that are connected to consumer spending, like transport and logistics, and food and clothing manufacturing, should do very well this festive season.”
It is against this background that Michelle Beetar, Managing Director at Experian South Africa, urges consumers to check out their current credit report before they start thinking about spending. “Your credit history needs to be in good shape to allow you to secure credit and you need to be fully aware of your status and your limits,” she cautions.
Beetar encourages consumers to take advantage of the free annual service provided by the credit bureaus as prescribed by the National Credit Act, giving consumers the right to access their credit reports once a year at no cost.
The service is available online and call centre agents are invariably on hand at the bureaus; agents who are trained to assist consumers to better understand their reports and advise them on possible courses of action for remedying any uncertain or negative information.
Beetar also debunks the myth that South African credit bureaus maintain blacklists.
“Because bureaus record both positive as well as negative credit information submitted by credit providers, it is impossible to maintain a one-sided negative report.”
She advises that consumers have the right to dispute the data contained in their reports should they feel the information is incorrect.
“The onus is then on the bureau to investigate that data and to remove it from the consumer’s record should credible evidence exist in support of that information not being accurate.”
Beetar earnestly encourages consumers to take advantage of their right to access their personal credit reports, partly with a view to ensuring they can access the credit they need and partly as a reminder that untoward spending could well result in credit heartburn further down the line.
ENDS
Natasha Horwitz Experian South Africa 011 799 3400 Natasha.Horwitz@experian.co.za
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Jonathan MahapaMeropa Communications +27 11 506-7333 |
Footnote
To access your Experian credit report online and sign-up to receive credit report updates by sms and email, please visit www.creditexpert.co.za . For queries on your Experian credit report please contact Experian Consumer Relations on 0861 10 56 65.
About Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.
Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2012 was US$4.5 billion. Experian employs approximately 17,000 people in 44 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and São Paulo, Brazil.
For more information, visit
http://www.experianplc.com
.