More than 286,000 Canadian businesses missed at least one payment last quarter, up 5.6 per cent from a year earlier, a new report from Equifax Canada shows.

Small businesses are keeping suppliers paid but falling behind on loans, a sign of deepening financial strain despite lower inflation and interest rate cuts.

More than 286,000 Canadian businesses missed at least one payment last quarter, up 5.6 per cent from a year earlier, a new report from Equifax Canada shows. While delinquencies on supplier payments declined 1.7 per cent, financial delinquencies – covering credit cards, lines of credit, mortgages and term loans – jumped 13.5 per cent to a rate of 3.48 per cent in the three-month period ended June 30.

“Businesses are prioritizing supplier relationships to keep operations moving,

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