Holiday childcare costs across Great Britain have risen by 5% in the last year, leaving working parents facing an average bill of £191 per child per week – or £1,145 for the six-week summer holiday according to Coram Family and Childcare research. The survey finds that holiday childcare continues to cost almost three times as much as after-school childcare during…
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New research from Rathbones suggests parents and grandparents are increasingly stepping in to fund higher education costs themselves. The research found that nearly seven in ten (69%) parents expect to cover at least half of the total cost of university, with 15% expecting to pay all or almost all costs themselves, 23% expecting to cover…
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Credit Connect has published the annual 2026 Credit & Collections Industry Awards Review. The annual review highlights why the judges decided the winners at this year’s Industry Awards, which were announced in May in York. The review provides background and context for the award results, recognising companies for advancing industry standards and excellence. The review…
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The rising cost of everyday essentials is taking a growing toll on mental wellbeing, according to new research from cashback shopping app Tuck. Tuck surveyed more than 3,000 consumers and found that 40% of adults feel mentally exhausted by financial worries either every day or several times a week, while nearly one in five (18%)…
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New Resolution Foundation analysis has found that income gaps between different regions across Britain have remained resolutely high over the past thirty years, including during the pandemic upheaval and ‘levelling-up’ agenda, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham as he seeks to tackle geographic inequality. The research shows that before-housing-cost income gaps…
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Credit card defaults in the UK have surged to their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. Bank of England data indicates a significant uptick in the number of people defaulting on credit card payments, the largest increase since 2009. The data shows a sharp rise in defaults on credit cards and other unsecured loans.…
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New research from Scottish Friendly has found that women are more likely to be worried about affording everyday outgoings over the next 12 months as day-to-day financial pressures threaten long-term savings and investments. The mutual’s latest Family Finance Tracker research shows that 71% of women are concerned about being able to afford all their regular…
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Millions of people across the UK are still years away from recovering financially from the cost-of-living crisis, and the nation’s overall financial resilience level shows many households are still very exposed if prices rise for basics such as food, fuel and energy, according to new research from Royal London. The report highlights that one in…
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Council tax arrears in the UK have reached £9.3 billion after rising by £1 billion over the past year, a 12% increase. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that England accounts for £7.4 billion of the total, with Scotland at £1.6 billion and Wales at £320 million. In the past five years,…
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New data from Ofgem has shown that energy debt has risien 15% year-on-year, hitting a record high of £4.79 billion, marking a 5% increase from the previous quarter. The number of accounts repaying debt rose by 3% for electricity and 4% for gas. Average debt for those with repayment plans is now £828 for electricity…
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Nearly one in four (39%) of adults (27.2 million, as of March 2026) would struggle to cover an unexpected £300 bill, new research from Chetwood Bank has revealed. The research found that financial resilience remains under pressure, with more than half (55%) of UK adults saying they have changed their savings or financial plans in…
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A quarter of graduates can expect to be financially worse off after going to university, especially those who take creative or performing arts degrees, according to new research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). People who took their GCSEs in 2002 and went to university will earn around 40% more over their lifetimes (£320,000…
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Fraudsters and debtors who refuse to pay face tough new consequences, including direct deductions from bank accounts, as new laws come into force. People who have stopped receiving benefits but still refuse to repay money owed to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could also be banned from driving under the new rules. The…
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