The SmartCompany Dun  & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the tourism sector shows an industry under pressure, but there are still some standout performances. We reveal the fastest-growing operators, the players with the biggest revenue and the the group of companies stuck in reverse.

The challenges of late 2008 look set to carry over into the New Year, with business executives anticipating further declines in sales and profits as credit market conditions, a volatile Australian dollar and inflationary pressures impact prospects for 2009.

Young males in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland are increasingly finding themselves in trouble with debt, according to new figures released today by Dun & Bradstreet.

Counterparty risk fears and scarce inter-bank liquidity have hit trade finance, forcing a slowdown in global trade. A report released today by Dun & Bradstreet reveals that industrial production and trade volumes are declining, with flow on effects causing freight rates and commodity prices to fall.

Private companies are more likely to fail in the coming twelve months and are outperformed by their public counterparts on key performance measures including profit margin, return on assets and return on investment. However private firms excel on liquidity and return on equity measures and are significantly better payers than listed entities.

The Age | Dun & Bradstreet Business of the Year award provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the attributes of successful businesses following one of the most turbulent financial periods of the last century. It also allows us to consider the implications of this for business success in 2009.

Australian executives are expecting further economic turbulence in the New Year as credit market conditions, a volatile Australian dollar and inflationary pressures impact profit and investment prospects for 2009.

Country risk ratings across Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have been downgraded as continued volatility in global financial markets drives further deterioration in the conditions of economies around the world.

The debt paying behaviours of Australian businesses are being impacted by a slowing economy and the continuing fallout from the credit crisis, with payment terms rising by four days since the September quarter of 2007.

The quality, price and availability of credit would improve over the long-term for both consumers and small business from comprehensive credit reporting. However a failure by government and lenders to prepare adequately could see a short-term contraction in credit supply and a rise in defaults as lenders attempt to understand the new data.

A debt divide is emerging in Australia as the global credit crisis impacts the spending behaviours of Australia's high and low income households. The latest Dun & Bradstreet Consumer Credit Expectations Survey reveals that one third of low income households (<$30,000) anticipate higher debt levels by Christmas, while the same percentage of high income households ($70,000) expect to lower their debt levels in the coming three months.

Dun & Bradstreet has acquired Australia's leading credit decisioning business, Decision Intellect. The acquisition will further fuel Dun & Bradstreet's growth in the consumer credit reporting market while adding to its already dominant commercial credit services.

Australia's business executives are expecting a sombre lead into Christmas as movements in the Aussie dollar, high fuel prices, continued inflationary pressures and declining consumer spending hurt their sales and profits prospects.

Australia continues to be a safe haven for business, maintaining the third highest rating on the Dun & Bradstreet Global Risk Indicator (GRI) while the United States, United Kingdom and Austria have suffered downgrades amidst continued financial market turmoil and global inflationary pressures.

The collapse of hundreds of home builders across the country has left thousands of Aussie families out of pocket or with unfinished homes and the pressure is set to continue with around one in ten home builders rated a high risk of experiencing financial distress in the current financial year.

Australia's business executives are anticipating a further decline in economic conditions in the December quarter as high fuel prices, continued inflationary pressures and a cut back in consumer spending hurt sales and profit margins.

A record of court actions against a company or its directors should be seen as an important indicator of likely business failure, according to new research by leading credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet (D&B).

A gulf is emerging between Australian exporters whose fortunes are tied to the commodities boom and those less able to withstand the impact of global inflationary pressures and declining US consumer demand with SMEs showing the highest risk of financial distress according to newly released risk data.

Over the course of thirty-odd years of journalism you ask a lot of questions. It is very rare, however, to receive an answer that shocks you. Recently Alan Kohler, Robert Gottliebsen and I interviewed Mirvac Groups outgoing chief executive, Greg Paramor, himself a 30-year-plus veteran of the property market.

The consumer credit market has changed dramatically over the last decade. An increase in the number of credit providers and products has been rivaled only by the enthusiasm with which Australians have snapped up new credit offers.

Australian lenders will be able to obtain a more complete picture of a borrowers true financial position when assessing new credit applications if recommendations from the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today are accepted by the Commonwealth Government.

Economic conditions are expected to deteriorate further in the December quarter as continually escalating costs and poor sales results hurt the profits of Australian companies

The pressure on Australian businesses continues with payment terms at a seven year high and almost four weeks past the standard term. The latest figures in Dun & Bradstreet's (D&B's) quarterly trade payment analysis reveals that payment terms across all industries are at 55.6 days, an increase of three days since the June quarter of 2007.

GDP growth forecasts have been downgraded for many countries around the globe, with the world GDP forecast for 2008 now at 2.8%, according to the latest Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) quarterly Economic  & Risk Outlook Report.

John Adams, the first vice-president and second President of the United States, once wrote in a letter to Thomas Jefferson:        All the perplexities, confusion and distresses in America arise not from defects in the constitution or confederation, nor from want of honour or virtue, as much from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation.

One third of Australians expect to have higher household debt levels in three months time and a growing number of those with children expect to rely on credit cards to make ends meet according to the latest Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Consumer Credit Expectations Survey.

Australian executives anticipate further deterioration in business conditions in the September quarter as a slowing economy, soaring fuel prices and tightened credit conditions impact the bottom line.

Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has welcomed a Federal Government inquiry into financial services and credit reform. The inquiry - which examines a range of issues, including mortgages, margin lending, trustee corporations and other credit products - seeks to improve, simplify and standardise financial services and credit regulation.

The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the construction sector reveals a fragmented broader industry that has shown strong growth in favoured parts but revenue that is sensitive to wide ranging influences.

The tightening credit market has spurred an increase in the number of consumers checking their credit file as financial institutions close their books on borrowers with a less than perfect credit record.

Australias business executives are anticipating a bleak September quarter as high fuel prices, continued inflationary pressures and slowing consumer spending hurt sales and profit margins.

With the end of the financial year just weeks away there is little time left for Australias SMEs to collect outstanding debts and ensure their business is in an optimal financial position to start the 2008/09 year.

The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the engineering sector highlights an industry enjoying explosive growth from the resources and infrastructure booms. But labour shortages remain the sectors greatest challenge.

Australian consumers are facing debt troubles with young people and those living in outer metropolitan regions in particular showing signs of severe debt stress according to a study from leading credit reporting and collections agency Dun & Bradstreet (D&B).

Current economic data and news headlines provide a somewhat bleak fiscal outlook: inflation figures dash hopes of a rate cut, petrol prices hit $1.50 a litre, grocery bills on the increase and US heads towards recession are just some headlines we are confronted with everyday.

Economic conditions are expected to deteriorate with a rapid slowdown in activity in the September quarter as global turbulence and domestic inflationary pressures buffet Australian businesses.

The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the transport and logistics sector reveals a fast-growing sector that is expanding through specialisation and acquisition.

Business to business payment terms have blown out to their highest level since 2001, increasing cash flow pressure on Australian businesses already buffeted by a shakier economic outlook.

Global growth is forecast to slow further as consumers in the United States rein in spending and signs of weakness in that economy become more pronounced.

The latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey is showing signs of success in the fight against inflation. Selling price expectations have reached an 18 month low following a decrease of eight points since the March quarter.

There has been a jump in the number of Australian households expecting to have higher levels of debt in three months time and young people are showing increasing signs of severe debt stress according to the latest Dun & Bradstreet Consumer Credit Expectations Survey.

There has been a dramatic jump in the number and value of corporate defaults in Australia as the global credit crisis starts to impact local debt performance. And in signs that local businesses are now scrambling to recover outstanding money and improve cash flow, smaller debts are being escalated to formal collection proceedings at much earlier stages.

The rampant volatility shaking global credit markets is fundamentally reshaping the landscape, leaving a trail of winners and losers in its destructive wake.

Australia continues to be a safe haven for business, holding steady in the number three position behind Austria and Switzerland on the Dun & Bradstreet Global Risk Indicator (GRI) for the second consecutive quarter.

The extraordinary growth of the Australian economy over the last decade has been driven by a number of factors.

The latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey is showing early signs of success in the fight against inflation, with a five point decrease in selling prices expectations since the previous survey.

Fears of a global recession stemming from the economic prospects of some of the world's biggest economies are unlikely to be realised, according to Dun & Bradstreet's latest Economic & Risk Outlook Report.

Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has welcomed an announcement from the Rudd Government that it will legislate to ensure all Commonwealth Departments pay suppliers within 30 days.

Inflationary pressure persists and interest rate and petrol price concerns continue to increase according to figures from the latest Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Business Expectations survey.

The length of time Australian businesses take to pay each other is rising, placing additional pressure on company cash flows in an environment where access to credit has already tightened.

Dun & Bradstreet has acquired a stake in FCS OnLine bringing together two of Australia �™s most powerful identity verification and credit reporting databases.

The New Year looks set to challenge Australian businesses, with interest rates and petrol prices the primary concerns for executives in the quarter ahead. The impact of the tightening credit market on operations is also a concern and evidence of inflationary pressure continues with more than half of executives expecting to increase selling prices in the March quarter.