COUNTY COURT JUDGMENTS AGAINST ENGLAND & WALES BUSINESSES FALL 20 PERCENT YEAR ON YEAR IN Q4

There was a 20 percent drop year-on-year, in the number of County Court Judgments (CCJs) registered against businesses in England & Wales in Q4 2019, according to figures released today (Date: 27/01/2020) by Registry Trust.

The total number of judgments against all businesses decreased from 29,303 in Q4 2018 to 23,418 in Q4 2019, and was accompanied by a 21 percent drop in the total value of judgments from £117,546,664 in Q4 2018, to £92,311,503 in Q4 2019.

The fall in business CCJs largely affected incorporated businesses. The numbers fell by 27 percent, from 21,373 in Q4 2018 to 15,626 in Q4 2019. Judgments against incorporated businesses account for 67 percent of all business judgment numbers and 74 percent of their total value.

Despite large decreases in number and total value, the average value fell by just 2 percent and median value actually rose by 40 percent, with smaller judgments down 10% and larger judgments up 10% compared to Q4 2018.

In the High Court of England & Wales, judgments against businesses rose 80 percent, from fifteen High Court judgments in Q4 2018 to 27 in Q4 2019. The total value of High Court Judgments against businesses rose 62 percent from £4,655,373 in Q4 2018 to £7,545,465 in Q4 2019. The average and median values dropped 10 and 87 percent respectively due to an increase in smaller value judgments in the High Courts.

Registry Trust is the Registrar of Judgments, Orders and Fines in England and Wales (on behalf of the Ministry of Justice). In addition, it collects court judgment information across the UK and Ireland.

Mick McAteer, chairman of Registry Trust said: “Registry Trust data on judgments provides a useful indicator of the health of the economy. The fall in the number of judgments against businesses is a positive sign. We will continue to monitor the trends”.

Incorporated Businesses include Ltd, PLC, LLP etc.