eNews Archive

Every facet of a credit manager’s day-to-day work relates to risk mitigation, as they work tirelessly to protect their company through each transaction. When you are uncertain about a customer and their ability to pay within terms, it is time to consider new protective measures.  Why it matters: One way to shield your company from risk and prevent major losses due to nonpayment is through letters of credit (LC). An LC is a written understanding by a bank, acting on a request from a customer, to make payments to a third-party beneficiary. The bank agrees to accept and pay bills drawn…

The U.S. economy surpassed expectations after real (inflation adjusted) gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 3% at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate for the second quarter of 2025, reversing a 0.5% decline in the previous quarter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Contributing to the rise in real GDP, consumer spending grew by 1.4%, up from 0.5% in the prior period. Why it matters: Although the headline GDP growth rate and consumer spending data—what economists call hard data—support a promising outlook for the economy, some economists anticipate a downturn due …

Credit professionals are no strangers to forms, with the continuous exchange of documents between a customer and a seller dubbed the “battle of the forms.” With so many documents, it can be hard to decipher the exact terms, prompting many businesses to employ master service agreements (MSAs).   Why it matters: MSAs are legal documents that consolidate agreements between customers and sellers, laying out the terms and conditions that will become the foundation of their ongoing business relationship.  These agreements offer more flexibility than traditional credit agreeme…

NACM’s seasonally adjusted combined Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) for July 2025 improved 0.2 points to 54.3. “By the numbers, based on what has already occurred, the NACM Credit Managers’ Index is showing continued resilience,” said NACM Economist Amy Crews Cutts, Ph.D., CBE.

The nature of credit and collections requires credit managers to always keep an eye out for risk on the horizon, whether it’s concern towards a customer’s persistent cash flow issues or a weariness towards extending credit in a country with growing geopolitical instability.  

Georgia’s two-step process for pre-lien notices and lien waivers can challenge even the most experienced credit professionals. Missing any key deadline can result in a complete loss of lien rights, regardless of the money owed on construction projects. For example, failing to serve a Notice to Contractor by day 30, even by mistake, can cost you tens of thousands. 

Assessing a customer’s creditworthiness and deciding on a credit line that protects your company from risk without hindering profits is no easy task. When a salesperson is asking for a credit manager to complete their credit investigation quickly so they can close the sale, it is important that credit managers find a balance between speed and risk. 

After a period of strong growth in late 2023 and early 2024, the U.S. economy has shown signs of slowing. Gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 0.5% in Q1 2025, raising concerns about the country’s economic resiliency. Inflation rose to 2.7% year-over-year in June, up from 2.4%, while unemployment has remained stable between 4.0% and 4.2% since May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and regulatory changes continue to add uncertainty to the broader macroeconomic outlook.