Published reports

ECONOMIST NEWSPAPER LIMITED(THE)

Company number: 00236383

This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.

Reporting period:

1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025

Report filed on:

17 October 2025

Approved by:

Marcus Roy


Contracts and payments

Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? No

Payment statistics

Average time taken to pay invoices: 18 days

Total value paid:

  • within 30 days: £31,217,303  (58%)
  • in 31 to 60 days: £21,746,196  (40%)
  • in 61 days or more: £1,146,609  (2%)

Invoices paid:

  • within 30 days: 79%
  • in 31 to 60 days: 20%
  • in 61 days or more: 1%

Late and disputed:

  • total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £30,025,540
  • payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 29%
  • not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 0%

Payment terms

Shortest standard payment periods

30 days

Longest standard payment period

60 days

Standard payment terms

The Economist’s default payment terms are 30 days from date of invoice. However payment terms depend on agreements with respective suppliers
The most common supplier terms during the reporting period are:
• 30 days: 91%
• 15 days: 9%

Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?

No

Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?

N/A

Maximum contractual payment period agreed

60 days

N/A

Any other information about payment terms

N/A

Dispute resolution process

The Accounts Payable team registers all invoices within the financial system on a daily basis. Invoices are then sent to staff in the business for approval, via workflow. If any invoices are disputed, the staff members responsible will workflow the invoice back to Account Payable, providing details of the dispute. Disputed invoices are placed on hold.

Payment disputes are dealt with by the staff member responsible for the supplier relationship. The accounts payable team are able to identify invoices in dispute and regularly follow up with staff members to check status of approval. Once the dispute is resolved, the invoice is approved and paid.

A payment dispute may also be raised by contacting the accounts payable team

Other payment information

Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?

For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.

No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.

Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?

This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.

No

Does this business offer supply chain finance?

This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.

No

Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

No

During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

No