Mortgage affordability hits two-decade low

Homebuyers are experiencing the highest mortgage affordability pressures in nearly 20 years, with repayments consuming 21.3% of gross income, according to UK Finance.  The data showed that 723,000 house purchase mortgages advanced in 2025, up 17 per cent year-on-year with average borrower spends 21.3 per cent of gross income on repayments. The analysis shows significant…

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FCA launches review into claims management practices

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that it will launch an investigation into claims management practices. The review follows concerns that consumers are being failed by some claims management companies (CMCs) and law firms. The review will look at the root causes of poor practices across the market, like aggressive marketing, misleading advertising and…

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Barclays announces £4m additional investment in StepChange

Barclays has announced an additional investment of almost £4 million in debt charity, StepChange. The announcement builds on its longstanding partnership with and regular financial contributions to StepChange, and backs the most significant digital transformation in the charity’s history by helping more people across the UK access free, impartial debt advice sooner. With nearly one in four adults…

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One in eight workers admit to selling company logins

New findings from fraud prevention service, Cifas,  has revealed a shift in attitudes towards insider‑enabled fraud, with 13% of employees saying they have either sold their company login details to a former colleague, or know someone who has, in the past 12 months. For organisations, the normalisation of credential sharing significantly increases exposure to insider…

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Approximately two pubs closed a day in first three months of year

6th May 2026 Business | #pub closures

A total of 161 pubs closed across Britain in the first three months of this year, an equivalent of almost two a day, according to the latest figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). The industry body said the closures across England, Scotland, and Wales equated to more than 2,400 job losses –…

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