CONSUMER AND SMALL BUSINESS JUDGMENTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND SEE SHARP RISES IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 2019
Judgments taken out against consumers in Northern Ireland rose 16 percent in Q4 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, according to figures released today (Date: 27/01/2020) by Registry Trust.
1,732 judgments were taken out against consumers compared to 1,494 in Q4 2018. The average value rose by 7 percent pushing up the total value by 24 percent to £4,524,308, the largest year-on-year rise on record.
In Q4 2019, consumer judgments made up 88 percent of all Northern Ireland Judgments and accounted for 90 percent of the total value.
Northern Ireland businesses overall fared better in this quarter. The number of judgments rose 5 percent but the total value dropped 21 percent in total value and 25 percent in average value compared to the same quarter of 2018.
But, small businesses had a different experience. The total value of judgments against small businesses jumped 64 percent from £40,919 in Q4 2018 to £67,013 in Q4 2019, while the number of judgments rose from 33 to 45, a 36 percent increase over the period.
Registry Trust is the non-profit organisation which collects judgment information throughout the British Isles and Ireland. In Northern Ireland it collects information on defaults and small claims judgments, and High Court judgments.
Trust chairman Mick McAteer said: “CCJs are a critical indicator of the state of household financial resilience. The sharp rise in the number and value of consumer judgments raises concerns that household finances may be under stress”.
Judgments against consumers | |||
Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Change (compared with Q4 2018) | |
volume | 1,494 | 1,732 | 16% |
total value | £3,637,868 | £4,524,308 | 24% |
Average* value | £2,435 | £2,612 | 7% |
median | £923 | £904 | -2% |
Judgments against all businesses | |||
Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Change (compared with Q4 2018) | |
volume | 227 | 238 | 5% |
total value | £611,140 | £483,903 | -21% |
Average* value | £2,765 | £2,086 | -25% |
median | £833 | £1,012 | 21% |
Judgments against incorporated businesses | |||
Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Change (compared with Q4 2018) | |
volume | 194 | 193 | -1% |
total value | £570,221 | £416,890 | -25% |
Average* value | £2,939 | £2,160 | -27% |
median | £833 | £1,008 | 21% |
Judgments against unicorporated businesses | |||
Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Change (compared with Q4 2018) | |
volume | 33 | 45 | 36% |
total value | £40,919 | £67,013 | 64% |
Average* value | £1,516 | £1,718 | 13% |
median | £901 | £1,198 | 33% |