News and Media

SYDNEY – 1 March 2021 – Equifax, a global data, analytics and technology company and leading provider of credit information in Australia, has finalised the purchase of Creditworks to help trade credit and SME businesses manage commercial risk through end-to-end credit automation.

Equifax Quarterly Business Credit Demand Index: Dec 2020

Overall business credit applications down -6.9% (vs Dec quarter 2019) Business loan applications decreased by -10.1% (vs Dec quarter 2019) Trade credit applications fell -8.4% (vs Dec quarter 2019) Asset finance applications increased by +0.2% (vs Dec quarter 2019).

Overall consumer credit applications down -21.9% (vs December quarter 2019)

Credit card applications reduced by -31.7% (vs December quarter 2019) Personal loan applications dropped -28.1% (vs December quarter 2019) Buy now pay later applications trending down -1.5% (vs December quarter 2019) Auto loan applications decreased by -2.8% (vs December quarter 2019)

Mortgage applications increased by +19.3% (vs December quarter 2019).

Queensland hardest hit in first wave lockdown with 9 of top 10 Mortgage Deferral hotspots.

Equifax Quarterly Consumer Credit Demand Index: June 2020

Overall consumer credit applications down -38.8% (vs June quarter 2019) Credit card applications dropped significantly by -45.4% (vs June quarter 2019) Personal loan applications dropped -33.5% (vs June quarter 2019) Buy now pay later applications reduced -7.3% (vs June quarter 2019) Auto loan applications down -13.7% (vs June quarter 2019) Mortgage applications increased by +7.6% (vs June quarter 2019).

Equifax Quarterly Business Credit Demand Index: June 2020

Overall business credit applications down -7.53% (vs June quarter 2019) Business loan applications decreased by -4.11% (vs June quarter 2019) Trade credit applications fell -17.82% (vs June quarter 2019) Asset finance applications declined -6.72% (vs June quarter 2019).

Equifax has been monitoring the impact of government stimulus on commercial SME lending, as well as tracking trade payments to determine the impact of COVID-19.

Equifax Quarterly Consumer Credit Demand Index: Dec 2019

Overall consumer credit applications down -7.3% (vs Dec quarter 2018). Credit card applications declined by -9.9% (vs Dec quarter 2018) and personal loan applications dropped by -5.3% (vs Dec quarter 2018)

Mortgage enquiries increased by +12.6% (Vs Dec quarter 2018), continuing trend from previous quarter.

Equifax Quarterly Consumer Credit Demand Index: Sept 2019

Overall consumer credit applications down -9.87% (vs Sept quarter 2018)

Credit card applications declined by -12.41% (vs Sept quarter 2018) and personal loan applications dropped by -7.80% (vs Sept quarter 2018)

Mortgage enquiries increased by +2.01%, the first rise in nine consecutive quarters

Equifax Quarterly Business Credit Demand Index: Sept 2019

Overall business credit applications down -6.40% (vs Sept quarter 2018)

Growth in business loan applications up +3.34% (vs Sept quarter 2018), while trade credit applications fell -4.21% (vs Sept quarter 2018).

Asset finance applications declined -24.88% (vs September 2018).