SME apprehensions regarding a potential economic downturn have diminished by a significant third (32%) since Q4 2022, as per iwoca's Q4 2023 SME Expert Index. Only under half (49%) of surveyed SME finance brokers indicate that their clients harbor any recession concerns—a noteworthy decline compared to 73 per cent in Q4 2022.
However, economic worries persist, particularly regarding inflation, which continues to trouble SMEs heading into 2024. Nearly half (45%) of brokers cite inflation as SMEs' primary concern, compared to just a third (32%) in Q4 2022.