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Increasingly sophisticated cybercrime threats in Australia are encouraging organisations to evolve their security culture, reporting structures and level of preparedness, according to a new Red Paper released today by global data, analytics and technology company Equifax.

Consumer credit demand continues its upward trajectory in Q3 2021, with early indications of further recovery in the coming months. Data from the first week of NSW reopening after 15-weeks in lockdown shows a jump in demand for auto loans (+33.0%), mortgages (+15.0%) and personal loans (+10.0%) compared to the previous week in lockdown.

The recovery in business credit demand eased in Q3 2021, but recovery may be imminent as states make their way out of lockdown. Data from the first four days of NSW reopening after 15-weeks in lockdown shows a jump in demand across all categories of credit. Asset finance enquiries rose by +25.1%, trade credit by +15.5% and business loans by +2.5% in the week of 11-14 October compared to the previous week in lockdown.

Equifax celebrates ten years with the release of the National Credit Managers Survey 2021 results

Equifax has been recognised as an ABA100 Winner in The Australian Business Awards 2021 for Product Innovation and New Product Innovation for Equifax One Score.

Equifax, the global data, analytics and technology company, has announced a partnership with leading HR and Payroll software provider Frontier Software. A first in the Australian market, the partnership will enable Frontier Software and its customers to streamline the employment income verification process and mitigate data handling risks in loan applications with automated employment income verification.

Rebound now hit by Pandemic Second-Wave

For the first time in three years, consumer credit demand has moved out of negative territory. According to the latest Quarterly Consumer Credit Demand Index (June 2021), demand recovered sharply in the June quarter (+29.1%), with applications for credit cards, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), personal loans, auto loans and mortgages all experiencing double-digit growth. A drop in the momentum of recovery is expected in the third quarter, with stay-at-home pandemic orders impacting around 10 million Australians

Q2 2021 figures show double-digit growth in business credit demand, with solid gains across all categories of credit, according to the latest Equifax Quarterly Business Credit Demand Index (June 2021). Sustaining this pace of recovery into the third quarter is now under question as second-wave pandemic lockdowns show signs of dampening credit demand in NSW and Victoria.

Business credit demand has returned to the same level it was in the March 2020 pre-pandemic quarter, driven by a bounce-back in asset finance (+8.9%). Business insolvencies have yet to match their March 2020 level (down -36% compared to March last year) but are rising, month on month up by +78% in February and +29.0% in March, according to the latest Equifax Quarterly Business Credit Demand Index (March 2021).

Consumer credit demand continues to decline compared to last year, but the rate of decline is slowing compared to previous quarters. Despite credit cards and personal loan demand remaining soft, auto loans and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) applications continue to recover, according to data from the latest Equifax Quarterly Consumer Credit Demand Index (March 2021). Demand for mortgages grew throughout Australia up +23.5% compared to the March quarter 2020, with every state and territory experiencing growth.