Marketing & CustomersAnalysis
The price of being busy
A fuller November order book can hide a thinner return. Before cutting prices, work out what the extra sales must earn—and what your business must promise.
Mercator — Front page
MoneyNews
Euro-area business borrowing costs rise in September
New ECB figures show September rates rising on smaller corporate loans. The useful question for an owner is how that movement translates into the cost of a particular agreement.
Business & EconomyNews
Euro-area growth slows; consumers still spend in France and Spain
October’s first estimates show rising household demand in France and Spain alongside a slower regional economy. The detail matters for businesses selling into different markets.
More from Mercator
Technology & OperationsNews
Germany plans AI support push for smaller businesses
A new national framework proposes coordinated support. SME vouchers remain under consideration, while practical help already exists.
PeopleNews
EU unemployment holds at 6.2%, with wide national gaps
September figures show very different conditions across continental Europe. For a smaller employer, a national average is the starting point for a hiring decision.
Technology & OperationsNews
UK cyber bill clears Lords as wider IT regulation advances
The bill returns to the Commons with amendments. Smaller businesses using outsourced IT have reason to examine supplier access, responsibilities and recovery arrangements.
Business & EconomyNews
ECB holds rates as energy risks rise and banks tighten business lending
The ECB left its deposit rate at 2.50% on 29 October. A separate survey shows smaller firms faced tighter lending standards in the third quarter.
Technology & OperationsNews
EU and Canada complete digital trade talks
The negotiated package covers cross-border data and electronic transactions. Formal approval steps remain before businesses can rely on the new agreement.
Marketing & CustomersAnalysis
The customer you should turn away
A full diary can conceal weak economics. Before declining a customer, distinguish a poor fit from a price, promise or process that needs fixing.
For people with a business to run.
European business, at the scale of yours. We follow the developments that change your costs, customers and working day, then examine the decisions behind them. Continental Europe comes first, with relevant reporting from the UK and beyond.