‘A resilient financial sector’ Interest rates in the UK will need to stay higher for longer than previously forecast to tackle inflation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned last week, despite improvements in the country’s economic outlook since the start of 2023. With cheaper energy, better relations with the European Union and calmer financial markets, […]
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Home Finance – In the news
Apartment sales drive recovery Agreed residential sales have returned to pre-pandemic levels for the first time since September 20221. The number of sales in March 2023 was only 1% behind March 2019, with the recovery largely driven by sales of apartments, which are now 10% above 2019 levels. In total, agreed sales remain 18% below […]
Residential Property Review – July 2023
RICS survey shows demand falling Activity in the residential sales market deteriorated in June, according to the latest UK Residential Survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), with negative net balance readings returned across many indicators. New buyer enquiries fell to a net balance of -45%, compared to -20% recorded in May, the […]
Commercial Property Review – July 2023
Hotel investment The latest Knight Frank analysis of the UK hotel sector shows that transaction volumes were around £860m in H1 2023, 60% below investment volumes for the same period one year earlier. There is a challenging environment in the UK, reflective of the macro-economic environment, with sluggish GDP growth. Some deals have completed, as […]
News in Review
“Inflation is falling and stands at its lowest level since last March” Last week, official data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that inflation in the UK fell further than expected in June to settle at 7.9%, down from 8.7% a month earlier and its lowest point since March 2022. The ONS […]
Money – In the News
National Insurance (NI) gap If you want to boost your State Pension and plug a gap in your NI record, the government has just extended the deadline for doing so from 31 July 2023 to 5 April 2025. The government has been allowing eligible people to retrospectively build up their April 2006 to April 2016 […]
HNWIs cutting pension contributions
Research has highlighted that in an effort to alleviate daily financial pressures, including rising mortgage rates, one third of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) have reduced their pension contributions or intend to do so in the next six months1. Those with assets of £250,000 plus are more likely to have reduced their pension contributions in the last […]
Housing stock soars
The number of houses for sale has soared, new figures show1, further strengthening the position of buyers. Supply surge? Ever since the pandemic days of frenetic buying, demand outstripping supply has been a familiar picture in the UK housing market. As interest rates have risen sharply in the past year, moreover, some potential sellers have […]
News in Review
“Our plan will work, but we must stick to it” Official figures released last week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that UK gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.1% in May. Analysts pointed to the additional bank holiday for the coronation as a key factor in this decline. By falling into reverse, […]
Are you a new tax year front runner?
The longer days of summer are the ideal time to think about what you want for yourself and your family in the future, to set specific financial goals and to benefit from getting plans organised early in the tax year. Setting your goals Considering your individual financial goals and developing a financial plan that aligns […]