Figures from the Registry Trust (the non-profit organisation which collects judgment information from jurisdictions across the British Isles) showing the number of debt judgments in the first half of 2016 show a continuation of diverging trends for businesses and individuals. The Registry database records 42,091 county court judgments (CCJs) recorded against businesses in England and Wales during the first six months of 2016, a year on year fall of 19 percent. This continues a trend of falling numbers of CCJ’s against businesses in recent years, to the lowest number recorded since the onset of the financial crisis. The average value of these CCJ’s rose by eight percent to £3,550. The total value of CCJ’s was £149m, a decrease of 12 percent.

The cause of this downward trend is contested. Some observers claim it is a reflection of the fact that economic recovery has meant fewer businesses are getting into debt related difficulties. Others, including many debt recovery solicitors, contend that the volume of business judgments in particular has been affected by the rise in court fees in recent years, deterring actions that might previously have been brought.

By contrast the similar data recording CCJ’s against individuals in the first half of 2016 rose to 419,510. This represents a year on year increase of 13 percent compared with the same period last year. The average value of a CCJ fell 15 percent to £1,833. The total value of these CCJ’s was almost £770m.