Report calls for review of water regulation system

The system of regulating water companies needs “a complete overhaul” as the sector hikes customer bills to expand failing infrastructure and tackle pollution, according to a new report by the Government’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The report says that the water system has been left to sink for too long, with hikes in customer bills…

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Half of children worried about money and their future 

18th July 2025 Consumer Collections |

A new study by KidsKnowBest, has revealed that financial anxiety is not a distant adult concern, but a present reality for UK children aged 7-14. Nearly half (46%) children are worried about money and their future and one in four children (24%) are explicitly anxious about basic needs. More than half (55%) of respondents revealed…

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Holiday childcare costs rise by 4%

New data from Coram Family and Childcare’s annual Holiday Childcare Survey has found that childcare costs have gone up by 4% since last summer. The data shows that working parents face an average bill of £179 per child per week – £1,075 for the six-week break. Commenting on the data, Susannah Streeter, Head of Money…

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Half of people aged over 55 using technology to manage budgets

New research commissioned by debt resolution specialists, DCBL  has found that more than half (51%) of people aged 55+ say apps now help them manage their money. The research also showed that over three-quarters (76%) say they would proactively manage their finances via an app or online portal if their bank or finance provider gave…

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Half of people who have acted on social media financial advice have lost money

Research by TSB has found that among the 31 per cent of people who have acted on financial advice on social media platforms, over half (55%) lost money as a result. The data found that over two-fifths (42%) of 16-24-year-olds reported having used social media to access financial advice in the past 12 months, followed by…

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Living standards outlook for UK households is bleak

A new report from the Resolution Foundation has found that the average UK household will see income grow by only 1 per cent, around £300, between 2025 and 2030, whilst the poorest families may see a 1 per cent decline in living standards.  The Foundation says the outlook for living standards across Britain is bleak.…

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Third of Gen Z and Millennials aren’t confident in financial situation

Almost a third of Gen Z (31%) and Millennials (28%) aren’t confident managing their current financial situation according to new research from the Investment Association. Money is a taboo topic for many with people more likely to discuss politics and current affairs (50%) than money and finances (29%) at the dinner table, according to new…

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Mortgage debt and regional inequality put millions of pensioners at risk

12th June 2025 Arrears and Recoveries |

New research from SunLife has reveals that seven in ten (73%) over 50s have private pensions, rising to 75% in the South West, 76% in the South East and 83% in Northern Ireland, in the North West 30% of over 50s have no private pension savings at all. Average incomes in the region are also…

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One in four people have no emergency savings

Nearly one in four UK adults (23%), around 12.5 million people, have no savings to fall back on in a crisis, according to new research from StepChange Debt Charity. Four in five (78%) of those with no rainy day savings say they find it difficult to keep up with living costs. As cost of living…

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Financial services providers’ webchats are inconsistent in meeting customer needs

New research from the LSB (Lending Standards Board) has revealed significant disparities in customers’ experiences across financial services providers’ ‘webchat’ services – including key differences in experience between webchats supported by AI tools and by humans. The LSB’s study, carried out by ESA Retail, was conducted via 190 mystery shopping customers, who were asked to…

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Household bills have risen by £112 over the past year

The annual cost of household bills has risen by £112 on average year-on-year, according to new research by Compare the Market. The research analyses the cost of energy, water, home insurance, motor insurance, and council tax. It reveals that the combined cost of these household bills has risen by 2% on average, compared to 12…

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Financial concerns cited among top reasons for stress and anxiety

New research Deloitte by has found that early half (49%) of Gen Zs and 43% of Millennials in the UK say they feel stressed or anxious all or most of the time, up slightly from last year’s figures of 47% and 41% respectively. Of those who feel this way, 41% of UK Gen Zs and…

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Mortgage borrowing increases

Latest Bank of England data has shown that net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased sharply by £9.7 billion to £13 billion in March, following a decrease in net borrowing of £1.0 billion to £3.3 billion in February. The annual growth rate for net mortgage lending rose from 1.9% to 2.7% in March, the…

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