UK late payment pressure index
Late payment is a leading cause of small business cash flow distress and a frequent precursor to insolvency.Large UK companies must report their payment practices twice a year, and this tracker draws on that mandatory data to show how long suppliers are kept waiting and which sectors pay worst. Late payment is an upstream cause of the cash flow problems that lead to insolvency, especially in construction and other long-supply-chain sectors.. Payment Practices Reporting (gov.uk)
Source: Payment Practices Reporting (gov.uk) · Updated twice a year, in line with mandatory reporting cycles. · Last reviewed June 2026.
| Signal | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Average days to pay | Longer payment times squeeze supplier cash flow |
| Percentage paid late | A high late-payment rate signals downstream distress |
| Worst-paying sectors | Concentrated late payment spreads risk through a supply chain |
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Methodology and source
Large UK companies must report their payment practices twice a year, and this tracker draws on that mandatory data to show how long suppliers are kept waiting and which sectors pay worst. Late payment is an upstream cause of the cash flow problems that lead to insolvency, especially in construction and other long-supply-chain sectors.
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