AU Group’s latest G-Grade for Q1 2024 warns that, after two years of strong post-COVID growth (2021 and 2022) and a global economy boosted by various governments’ support, 2023 was the year of a return to reality. “The debts incurred during the crisis have to be repaid, and there has been a catchup of insolvencies.” In 2024, business failures worldwide are expected to rise by 10% worldwide (compared with 7% in 2023), and global GDP growth will remain low at around 2.3% (compared with 2.7% in 2023). This “soft” growth” will be accompanied by margins that will remain under pressure (with inflation still high) and financing conditions that will not ease until the 2nd half of 2024. To download AU Group’s report, go to https://www.au-group.com/etudes/ggrade-q1-2024/.