Credit Agencies in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

COVID-19 crunch: Mixed unemployment and low growth in housing transfers constrain growth

This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.

Demand conditions tend to remain relatively stable for the Credit Agencies industry. During periods of economic growth, credit agencies can benefit from individuals' and businesses' improved capacity for taking on new debt and investing in assets. On the other hand, client companies tend to need more extensive credit checks on customers and businesses when economic conditions take a hit, which also generates demand for credit agencies' services. Despite this relative stability, volatile conditions following the COVID-19 outbreak have cut into credit agencies' performance. The amount of equity capital raising and the household debt to assets ratio have fallen over the past few years. Higher interest rates have made households and businesses less likely to invest, which has also slowed growth in housing transfer numbers. These conditions have caused revenue to contract by an annualised 1.6% to $764.5 million over the five years through 2023-24. This trend includes strong growth of 5.1% in 2023-24, as strong recovery in equity capital raising and continued rises in business bankruptcies mitigate falling revenue by generating demand for credit checks.

The industry provides independent opinions about the creditworthiness of companies, individuals, securities or financial obligations. A credit bureau (or consumer credit reporting agency) provides opinions about an individual’s creditworthiness. A credit rating agency assigns a credit rating for a particular issue of debt and evaluates the overall creditworthiness of the issuing entity.