Category archives: News in Review

The Autumn Budget is on 26 November, with speculation over new taxes as borrowing costs hit 25-year highs  The UK services sector grew strongly in August, reaching its highest activity level since April 2024, easing earlier concerns  Retail sales rose 0.6% in July, but mortgage borrowing dipped, signalling subdued growth risks for the economy  “Britain’s […]

GDP grew 0.3% in Q2, exceeding forecasts, but underlying conditions show fragility and weak confidence  Ukraine peace talks progressed with US-led NATO-style security guarantees, though no ceasefire agreement has yet been reached  UK data centres are set to rise nearly 20%, driven by AI demand, raising environmental and cost concerns  “The strong growth seen earlier […]

Bank of England cuts Bank rate to 4%, aiming for 2% inflation target medium-term  NIESR warns Labour may need tax rises to meet fiscal rules and address growing budget deficit  Trump’s new tariffs impact over 90 countries, with negotiated lower rates offering partial stability post-deadline  “We will do what it takes to return inflation to […]

The IMF has revised its global economic growth forecast upwards for 2025 and 2026, despite ongoing trade tensions  A recent Supreme Court ruling has limited compensation claims for car finance customers, but a redress scheme is under consideration  The Inheritance Tax take has risen due to higher asset values and frozen tax thresholds  “The world […]

UK inflation unexpectedly rose to 3.6% in June, reducing hopes of imminent interest rate cuts  Retail sales showed strong annual growth of 3.1%, led by food sales and resilient online spending  Unemployment hit 4.7% and vacancies continued to fall, signalling persistent labour market softness and caution  “This surprise uptick in CPI to 3.6% is a […]

Realistic pricing is essential as the housing market faces seasonal price dips and increased regional competition  UK consumer confidence dips due to inflation and job concerns, leading to cautious spending and economic pressure  Early summer heat boosts spending, especially among Millennials, despite growing reliance on credit and uneven financial planning  “Realistic pricing will remain key […]

The Bank of England held Bank Rate at 4.25%, citing economic uncertainty and softening in labour data  UK inflation remains stable, though food prices, especially chocolate, continue rising faster than other goods  Numbers of interest-only mortgages drop sharply, suggesting improved lending standards and lower exposure to risky loans  “The world is highly unpredictable”  Last week, […]

The Spending Review included:  NHS to receive £29bn a year extra and £39bn over 10 years for social housing  GDP dropped by 0.3% in April, highlighting ongoing economic fragility and the biggest drop since October 2023   President Trump signed an executive order to reduce tariffs on UK cars being shipped to the US  “We are […]

UK economic growth has been revised upwards by the International Monetary Fund – 1.2% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026   The government plans to double £25bn+ pension megafunds to improve retirements and boost UK investment  Retail confidence plunges to a five-year low, with sales falling and businesses bracing for tougher conditions  ‘An economic recovery is […]

The UK economy grew 0.7% in Q1 2025, exceeding forecasts and signalling potential recovery momentum  A new UK-EU deal includes border easing, a youth mobility scheme and renewed defence cooperation  The FCA reveals 13 million have low financial resilience, with widespread savings shortfalls and mental stress  “The economy is beginning to turn a corner”  The […]