Company collapses in Northern Ireland soared last year, according to new official figures.
Some 305 firms went out of business in 2024, according to the Insolvency Service.
And that represented a massive 40% increase on the previous year, when 218 firms went under.
In December alone there were 23 company insolvencies registered in the north, 4% lower than in December 2023.
This was comprised of 17 CVLs, four compulsory liquidations, one CVA and one administration. There were no receivership appointments.
Northern Ireland was the only UK region to show an increase, according to the data.
Company collapses in England and Wales fell by 5% last year to 23,872 while insolvencies in Scotland were similar to the year before, at 1,236.
High-profile administrations across the UK in 2024 included Homebase, Carpetright and The Body Shop. All three were bought out of administration, but thousands of jobs were lost across the businesses.
Experts are now warning of more uncertainty for firms in the coming months following measures introduced in the October Budget, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves raised national insurance contributions (NICs), a tax paid by companies.
The policy is designed to help fund improvements in public services such as the NHS, but it has been criticised by business groups for making it more expensive for firms to hire people.
Meanwhile, economic growth has been slow in recent months, with the most recent official figures showing the UK economy grew 0.1% in November after falling in the months before.
