House prices ‘continue to surprise’ as average property value ticks up in May July 16, 2025 UK house prices rose again in May, bucking predictions of a slowdown in the market after stamp duty relief was axed earlier this year. The average price for a UK property reached £269,000 in May, up 3.9 per cent year on year and 1.1 per cent month on month. The bulk of this increase was [...]
Andrew Bailey sets Donald Trump challenge on tariff plans July 16, 2025 Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has set President Donald Trump a “constructive challenge” to explain contradictions in fiscal policies that threaten the world economy and financial stability. In his Mansion House speech delivered to an audience of City leaders, Andrew Bailey defended the principles of free trade and post-war agreements to introduce multilateral systems [...]
Pressure on Bank of England and Reeves as inflation spikes July 16, 2025 The UK economy is at risk of ‘stagflation’ after official data revealed that inflation edged up to 3.6 per cent in June, putting further interest rate cuts by the Bank of England at risk. In the latest set of price growth data before the next monetary policy decision in August, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that [...]
OBR chief says higher tax is ‘not good’ for growth – or the government July 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves risks harming the UK economy’s potential to grow by inflicting extra tax hikes on Brits, the fiscal watchdog has warned, adding that the government risks losing out on returns in the longer run. Rachel Reeves looks poised to raise taxes at this year’s Autumn Budget as leading City analysts believe the higher [...]
Bank of England looks for jobs data revisions ahead of rate decision July 15, 2025 The Bank of England will be looking out for any revisions to the number of people pushed out of work on Thursday when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes fresh jobs data, with an interest rate decision set to hinge on the extent of the deterioration in the labour market. Last month, the official [...]
Scammers target struggling grads and school leavers amid jobs slump July 15, 2025 Young people applying for their first jobs are being confronted a double threat: a shrinking pool of entry level roles, as well as a surge in sophisticated job scams on social media. With graduate job postings down by a third year on year, fraudsters are exploiting the desperation of university graduates and school leavers by [...]
Rachel Reeves launches major fintech push to galvanize listings July 15, 2025 Rachel Reeves has laid out the government’s plans to make the UK the world leader in fintech in the Chancellor’s latest effort to attract a fleet of listings from the industry. Reeves today unveiled the Treasury’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, in which she laid out her vision to make the UK the “world’s [...]
Rachel Reeves accelerates deregulation push in Leeds Reforms July 15, 2025 Rachel Reeves has laid out plans to “rewire” the financial services system in a deregulation push as part of her Leeds reforms package. The Chancellor said the plans will make the UK the number one destination for financial services businesses by 2035 as the government “doubles down on the UK’s global strengths”. The Leeds Reforms [...]
Bank of England unveils shake up of financial crisis banking rules July 15, 2025 The Bank of England has unveiled a sweeping package of reforms aimed at easing the regulatory burden on smaller and mid-sized banks, marking a major shakeup of the post-financial crisis rulebook. The central bank’s changes include a one-year delay to key parts of the Basel 3.1 reforms – the UK’s version of international banking rules [...]
Rachel Reeves eyes boost for first-time buyers with mortgage reforms July 15, 2025 Rachel Reeves will today unveil a fleet of reforms in a bid to boost home ownership as she plans to slash ‘financial red tape’. Speaking in Leeds ahead of her Mansion House address, the Chancellor will announce plans for the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to increase high loan-to-income mortgages (over 4.5 times a buyer’s income) [...]