ENGLAND & WALES BUSINESS CCJs FALL SIX PERCENT IN Q1 2020
County Court Judgments (CCJs) against businesses England and Wales fell six percent in Q1 2020, compared to the same quarter in 2019, according to figures released today (23/04/2020) by Registry Trust.
The number of CCJs against businesses decreased from 35,781 in Q1 2019 to 33,520 in Q1 2020. The total value of judgments saw an increase of one percent, bringing the total CCJ debt owed by England & Wales businesses to £108.4 million for the quarter. The average value of business debt hit £3,233 this quarter, eight percent more than was seen in Q1 of 2019. The median value rose from £933 to £974 over the period.
Small businesses fared better than larger businesses this quarter. The number of CCJs against unincorporated businesses dropped 13 percent, from 8,717 in Q1 2019 to 7,563 in Q1 2020. The total amount of CCJ debt owed by small businesses also fell by 13 percent from just under £25 million to £21.7 million.
The value of judgments against incorporated businesses rose by five percent from £82 million to £86.7 million over the period, while the number fell by four percent from 27,064 to 25,957. The average value rose by 10 percent.
The number of High Court Judgments against businesses rose 281 percent, from 16 in Q1 2019, to 61 in Q1 2020, due to the small number of registered High Court Judgments, these figures are subject to large fluctuations.
Mick McAteer, chairman of Registry Trust said: “The fall in judgments against small businesses this quarter is encouraging. Interventions by government should shield businesses against the worst economic impacts of Covid19 so we may see another major fall in numbers next quarter. But, the damage to business finances could show up later this year”.
| Q1 2019 | Q1 2020 | Change (compared with 2019) | |
| CCJs against all businesses | |||
| volume | 35,781 | 33,520 | -6.32% |
| total value | £107,250,527 | £108,381,780 | 1.05% |
| Average* value | £2,997 | £3,233 | 7.87% |
| median | £933 | £974 | 4.39% |
| CCJs against incorporated businesses | |||
| volume | 27,064 | 25,957 | -4.09% |
| total value | £82,337,801 | £86,705,809 | 5.30% |
| Average* value | £3,042 | £3,340 | 9.80% |
| median | £902 | £902 | 0.00% |
| CCJs against unincorporated businesses | |||
| volume | 8,717 | 7,563 | -13.24% |
| total value | £24,912,726 | £21,675,971 | -12.99% |
| Average* value | £2,858 | £2,866 | 0.28% |
| median | £1,223 | £1,138 | -6.95% |
| High Court judgments against all businesses | |||
| volume | 16 | 61 | 281.25% |
| total value | £7,135,034 | £18,652,139 | 161.42% |
| Average* value | £445,940 | £305,773 | -31.43% |
| median | £27,216 | £10,000 | -63.26% |