Fintech PR
Intrum: Three quarters of consumers admit to breaking even or overspending each month
- 35% of consumers have skipped at least one bill in the last 12 months, with one in three feeling less guilt for dodging their payment due date than in the past
- Three in four (76%) are just breaking even or are over-spending each month, with the average over-spender exceeding their budget by €232
- One in five consumers have no `cash buffer’ to fall back on in the event of difficulties
- 71% say `greedflation’ would stop them spending money with a business
STOCKHOLM, Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Three quarters (76%) of consumers are only just breaking even or overspending each month, according to the upcoming annual edition of the European Consumer Payment Report from credit management services provider Intrum. Breaking this down by country, the figure rises to 79% of UK consumers overspending or just breaking even. Similarly, consumers are feeling economic the pressure more so in Switzerland (78%), Ireland (80%), Germany (83%) and Greece (87%).
Of those overspending each month, this equates to €232 across Europe on average.
Published today, findings from Intrum’s study lay bare the experiences of 20,000 consumers across 20 European countries. They paint a stark picture of the wellbeing of European consumers in the face of a dual shock of rising interest rates and high inflation.
With their personal finances under pressure, more than a third (35%) of consumers admit they have failed to pay at least one bill on time in the last 12 months. This is the highest proportion in Intrum’s annual study since 2019.
The main reason for failing to pay bills is simply not having the money required to pay (43%). Yet one in three people (31%) say they feel less guilt about dodging their payment due date than in the past. The finding suggests people believe reneging on payments is a natural, and necessary, consequence of a more challenging economic environment.
Chart 1: During the last 12 months have you at one or several times not paid a bill on time?
Half the population have suffered a disposable income drop while one in five have no savings
Consumers’ real earnings have stagnated or even declined as surging inflation and higher borrowing costs continue to be a problem for European households. As many as 49% of consumers say that have significantly or slightly less spending money after paying for essential items and bills than they did a year ago.
Many consumers’ resilience is hanging by a thread because they lack any ‘cash buffer’ to cover unexpected costs. Worryingly one in five (20%) admit they have no savings to fall back on, and a further 17% have less than one month’s income saved.
As a result, more than three in four consumers (78%) may demand a pay rise from their employer this year, while 41% anticipate taking on extra credit to make ends meet.
Consumers’ outlook on the future has also worsened, with just 45% expecting their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, fuelling a wider sense of unease and discontent. On average, people believe that high inflation will last until early 2025.
Greedflation repels 71% of consumers
With greater pressure on their disposable incomes, consumers are drawn towards brands and businesses that show they understand the changing landscape. Half (50%) of consumers say they are more likely to spend money with businesses that offer flexible payment terms such as partial payments, multiple payment methods or flexible due dates. A bigger majority (67%) believe that companies should offer flexible payment methods to consumers during difficult economic periods.
Looking ahead, an overriding 71% of consumers say they would stop spending money with a business if they thought that it was guilty of ‘greedflation’ by raising its prices when costs go up, but choosing to not reduce them when costs fall.
Andres Rubio, President and CEO of Intrum, comments: “It’s clear that consumers are under severe pressure when it comes to their personal finances. Millions of people across Europe are facing tough decisions every day about where they can and can’t afford to cut back.
The harsh reality of missing bills is not that consumers won’t pay, but some of them simply can’t afford to pay. Businesses that take an unnecessarily aggressive stance and don’t demonstrate understanding and flexibility will not see any significant improvement in repayments.
During times of volatility and uncertainty, people can easily feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. Businesses needs to find a solution that works for them and their customers for the long term. With a central focus on an ethical and fair approach to payments collection, Intrum and the credit management industry play a crucial role in providing guidance to businesses. In fact, there is an opportunity to build customer trust and secure competitive advantage long term by taking a pragmatic and flexible approach now.”
About The European Consumer Payment Report 2023
The European Consumer Payment Report 2023 is an instrument for gaining insight into European consumers’ everyday lives, their spending and ability to manage their household finances on a monthly basis. The report is based on an external survey conducted by Longitude across 20 countries in Europe. A total of 20,000 consumers participated in the 2023 edition of the survey. The fieldwork for the study was conducted between 19th July and the 1st September 2023.
The full European Consumer Payment Report 2023 will be published in November and available for download on intrum.com.
For further information, please contact:
Kristin Andersson, Global Media Relations & Public Affairs Director
+46 70 585 78 18
[email protected]
The following files are available for download:
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https://mb.cision.com/Main/8612/3843595/2324620.pdf |
IAB_2022.09.28_ECPR 2023 CEO pov |
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BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A report from Poeple’s Daily:
In May 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Hungary. During this historic visit, leaders of the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, injecting renewed powerful impetus into cooperation between the two countries.
As the interpreter for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during his meeting with President Xi, Simon Adrienn had the opportunity to again gain a firsthand glimpse into the charisma of President Xi as the leader of a major country.
In 2009, Xi, the then vice president of China, visited Hungary. Simon accompanied him as an interpreter for the first time to explore a memorial hall with rich Hungarian ethnic characteristics. “As I provided explanations, Xi listened attentively, showing a genuine interest in Hungarian history and culture. I could sense that he was a leader of great knowledge and insight”.
Since then, she has worked as an interpreter during meetings between the leaders of Hungary and China on numerous occasions. In her memories, Prime Minister Orban and President Xi are both candid and wise leaders who know about each other and trust each other. “President Xi’s clear articulation makes my job relatively easy. He is approachable, and respects and treats every staff member equally. In my view, this exemplifies the true essence of a great leader of a major country.”
Before kicking off this state visit to Hungary, President Xi published a signed article titled “Embarking on a Golden Voyage in China–Hungary Relations” in the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet. The article provided a comprehensive overview of the successful practices and positive outcomes in the development of bilateral relations over the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Simon translated the article into Hungarian. She said this experience was a valuable learning process, allowing her to gain a deeper understanding of President Xi’s views and thoughts.
In fact, this was not the first time that she translated President Xi’s books and articles. She once participated in the translation of President Xi’s book “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China“. In her eyes, President Xi drew upon numerous Chinese historical and cultural references in the book, prompting her to delve into the materials to identify the most suitable expressions. The process of translation provided her with profound intellectual enlightenment.
She deeply admires President Xi’s statement “Friendship, which derives from close contact between the people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations.” As Hungary-China relations navigate a “golden channel,” closer people-to-people ties stand as a vital cornerstone. The Hungarian and Chinese people share many similarities, both valuing family harmony. The Hungarian people hold a profound appreciation for Chinese culture, evident through the presence of multiple Confucius Institutes, numerous traditional Chinese medicine clinics, and bilingual schools in Hungary that nurture a plethora of young talents for cultural exchanges between the two nations. Hungarian Chinese communities have also made substantial contributions to fostering deeper friendship between the two countries. People-to-people and cultural exchanges continue to strengthen, laying a solid foundation for cooperation between the two nations.
In the 1980s, student exchanges between Hungary and China began, and Simon was one of the beneficiaries. Her connection with China dated back to the third grade of primary school. At that time, she read many Chinese folk stories in the library. Upon graduating from high school, she seized the opportunity to study in China and spent six wonderful years there which had a significant impact on her life. Even today, she still enjoys reading Chinese folk stories and children’s literature. She has translated them into Hungarian, and organized Hungarian children to read them. she is always learning and improving, hoping to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples through her work and continue to write new stories of friendly exchanges with her Chinese friends.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/get-a-firsthand-experience-of-the-charisma-of-xi-302339216.html
Fintech PR
WSPN Appoints Former EY Global Chief Innovation Officer Jeff Wong as Independent Director
SINGAPORE, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network (WSPN), a leading stablecoin infrastructure company, announces the appointment of Jeff Wong as Independent Director. Mr. Wong brings over 25 years of experience in technology innovation and enterprise transformation to WSPN. He most recently served as EY’s Global Chief Innovation Officer from 2015 to 2024, where he spearheaded the firm’s global innovation initiatives and established EY’s advanced technology labs focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Web3.
Prior to EY, Mr. Wong held leadership roles at eBay and JPMorgan Partners. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Forbes Technology Council, and the founding Chair of Asia Society’s Technology and Innovation Council, helping drive the innovation and transformation agenda. He was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Innovation Ecosystems. He has previously served on the Oxford Foundry Board at Oxford University and the Advisory Board for AI4All. Mr. Wong is a recipient of the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business award and an honoree of the A100 List by Gold House, recognizing individuals with Asian Pacific heritage who have made a significant impact on American culture and society.
“Joining WSPN at this pivotal moment in the stablecoin industry is incredibly exciting,” said Mr. Wong. “I look forward to contributing my experience in emerging technologies and enterprise transformation to help WSPN build the next generation of digital payment infrastructure.”
“Jeff’s appointment represents a significant strategic addition to WSPN,” said Raymond Yuan, Founder and CEO of WSPN. “His deep expertise in innovation management, enterprise transformation, and emerging technologies, combined with his leadership experience at global institutions, will be invaluable as we accelerate our market expansion and global development.”
About WSPN
WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, committed to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent payment solution for the global economy. Their flagship product, WUSD stablecoin, is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and aims to optimize secure digital payments for Web3 users. WSPN’s Stablecoin 2.0 approach prioritizes user-centricity, community governance, and accessibility, paving the way for widespread stablecoin adoption.
Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn
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Refining Capacity of the Base Surpasses 50 Million Tons per Year
NINGBO, China, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation‘s (HKG: 0386, “Sinopec”) recently announced the mechanical completion of the second-phase expansion and advanced materials project at its Zhenhai Refinery. This milestone sets new benchmarks for innovation, smart manufacturing, and energy efficiency in large-scale projects. The refinery’s capacity has now been upgraded to 40 million tons per year, contributing to the Zhejiang Ningbo Petrochemical Industrial Base surpassing a total refining capacity of 50 million tons annually. The achievement solidifies its position as China’s largest, most advanced, and globally competitive petrochemical industrial base.
Located in the Yangtze River Delta, a key downstream product consumption hub, the Zhejiang Ningbo Petrochemical Industrial Base plays a vital role in Sinopec’s value chain. The second-phase expansion and advanced materials project, with a total investment of CNY 41.6 billion, incorporates 18 production units, including atmospheric distillation, catalytic cracking, polypropylene, and propane dehydrogenation units. By emphasizing chemical-focused processes, the project creates multiple high-value-added supply chains.
The facility’s expanded production capacity supports the development of high-end polyolefins, advanced materials, and specialty chemicals. It is expected to provide approximately 8 million tons of petrochemical products annually, significantly boosting the overall capacity of supply chains for industries such as automotive, home appliances, and textiles in the region. This expansion is forecast to generate trillions of yuan in upstream and downstream industrial value.
The project achieved remarkable progress in technological innovation and sustainability. Highlights include:
- Localization of 10 core technologies, including the world’s highest-load vertical labyrinth compressor.
- Extensive deployment of smart technologies, enabling simultaneous delivery of digital and physical factories.
- Integration of a fully localized industrial operating system and a self-developed industrial internet platform to enhance decision-making and management.
- Implementation of comprehensive energy-saving measures, achieving an overall reduction in energy consumption of 11.7%.
- Safety and quality were paramount during construction, with over 90 million consecutive safe man-hours recorded and a 100% quality pass rate for all units, setting a new industry benchmark.
Zhenhai Refinery, Sinopec’s largest integrated refining and chemical enterprise, boasts an ethylene production capacity of 2.2 million tons per year. It is also the only enterprise in China consistently ranked in the top performance group of the Solomon Global Ethylene Performance Evaluation.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sinopec-completes-construction-of-chinas-largest-petrochemical-industrial-base-302339157.html
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