Brits borrowed more despite Budget unease January 5, 2026 British consumers took out more in credit over November than expected despite suggestions that Budget speculation would have held people back from taking risks, official data has shown. Economists widely predicted that weeks of speculation over tax rises dampened consumer sentiment and prevented people from borrowing more. But the Bank of England has revealed that [...]
UK economy showing signs of ‘zombie apocalypse,’ says think tank January 5, 2026 The UK economy faces a “zombie apocalypse” in the coming year, as years of tough trading conditions force thousands of unproductive firms to the wall, an influential left-leaning think tank has predicted. The Resolution Foundation forecasts a “triple whammy” of multi-year increases in interest rates, energy prices and the minimum wage will lead to the [...]
Rainy day savings, pensions and stocks: Brits’ 2026 financial resolutions January 5, 2026 Nearly one in three people are aiming to reduce their monthly spending in 2026, as more Brits look to boost their savings. According to a survey commissioned by Pensions UK, committing to building up ‘rainy day’ savings as a new year’s resolution has grown in importance, with 28 per cent planning to do so this [...]
Fines for uninsured drivers could rise under new plans January 4, 2026 Uninsured drivers may face higher fines and tougher penalties under new government plans to improve road safety and reduce the cost of car insurance. Under current rules, an uninsured driver may face a £300 fine and six points on their licence, which is less than the average annual insurance premium. The government is seeking to [...]
City minister: FTSE 100 record proves London’s got its spark back January 2, 2026 The FTSE's 10,000 point milestone is a sign of global confidence in London's capital markets, writes City minister Lucy Rigby.
Embracing elective dictatorship could save Starmer January 2, 2026 Starmer's government should be the most powerful in the West. To save the Labour party he must remember that in 2026, writes John McTernan.
Knight Frank appointed for bumper Brighton Palace Pier sale January 2, 2026 Knight Frank has been instructed on the sale of Brighton Palace Pier, two months after the Grade II-listed landmark’s owners revealed their plans to offload the amusement park amid a barrage of economic headwinds. The Brighton Pier Group appointed the property giant to seek a buyer for the coastal attraction, which its operator said in [...]
Activity in UK’s embattled manufacturing sector hits 15-month high January 2, 2026 The UK’s embattled manufacturing sector took another small step towards recovery at the end of 2025 thanks to an influx of new orders. The latest UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) from S&P Global UK hit a 15-month high as the industry continued to grow for the second consecutive month. The PMI reading hit 50.6, up [...]
FTSE 100 closes whisker away from 10,000 after intraday high January 2, 2026 The FTSE 100 was heading to a close a whisker away from the 10,000 mark on Friday after sealing an intraday high in the first day of trading in 2026. London’s blue-chip index climbed 0.3 per cent to finish the session near 9,962p. The index was boosted by an early morning rally as markets opened, [...]
Housing market ended 2025 on ‘softer note’ after ‘resilient’ year January 2, 2026 The UK housing market rounded off 2025 on a softer note after remaining “resilient” through a volatile year, according to Nationwide’s latest house price index. Annual house price growth slowed to 0.6 per cent in December from 1.8 per cent in November, with a 0.4 per cent fall in prices. This took the average UK [...]