SME sector improves but demand for credit still low
The latest Department of Finance/Red C SME credit demand survey shows that 84% of respondents have seen their performance, in turnover terms, improve (either remaining stable or increasing); in the past six months; up 10% on the preceding six months. The survey measures performance from April to the end of September of this year.
Other positives include 56% of firms being profitable (up 5%) and 30% (a rise of 7%) saying they have increased staff numbers.
