A KPMG survey has found that two-thirds of people believe the economy is worsening. Despite almost no change in how households feel about their own finances throughout the past year, 2025 saw a steep decline in sentiment towards the economy. Entering 2026, the majority of people (56%) feel secure in their personal finances, a 1%…
Read moreMore than half of couples would consider staying together for the sake of the finances, with only 40% of people stating that they would never stay in a bad relationship for financial reasons, according to research by Opinium for Hargreaves Lansdown. The first Monday back to work after Christmas has been dubbed ‘Divorce Day,’ because…
Read moreLatest monthly figures from the Insolvency Service for England & Wales have indicated that personal insolvencies decreased by 12% in November 2025 to a total of 9,343 compared to the October 2025 figure of 10,612. The Insolvency Service moved to a new case management system on 1st November 2025. As a result, there was a…
Read moreMore than six in ten (62%) parents believe a traditional Christmas is under threat due to the cost of living, with four in ten (40%) having to prioritise essential bills over festive spending, new research from Nationwide reveals. The poll of over 1,000 parents, done in partnership with charity Action for Children, also reveals that 42…
Read moreConsumer confidence improved in December, rising to minus 17 from minus 19, according to data. from GfK. The index measuring changes in personal finances over the last 12 months has increased by one point to -6. This is one point higher than December 2024. The forecast for personal finances over the next year is up one point to 2. This is an…
Read moreRising costs are reshaping Christmas traditions, with a quarter of people (24%) now believing you should be able to charge guests for Christmas dinner, an emerging trend dubbed the Pay Per Plate Christmas. Among 18 to 24 year olds, 42% say hosts should be allowed to charge, compared to 36% of 25 to 44 year…
Read moreAround one in three consumers (30%) in the UK are planning to spend more this Christmas compared with last year, according to new Deloitte research. This is higher than the rest of Europe, where less than a quarter (23%) plan to spend more. In the UK, younger consumers aged 18-34 are nearly twice as likely…
Read moreA new report from Standard Life has identified a marked rise in financial insecurity among people in their early 60s as the State Pension age has increased over the past 15 years. The report’s analysis highlights that there are 250,000 more people aged 60-64 in relative income poverty than in 2010 when the State Pension…
Read moreNew figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 22% in October 2025. Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Director of Consumer & Mortgage Finance and Inclusion at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said “The…
Read moreNew research from financial wellbeing business Loqboxr has revealed a major shift in how families are approaching Christmas this year, with four in ten planning to buy fewer gifts and a quarter saying the season has become ‘too materialistic.’ Rather than these changes taking the shine off the season, this shift shows families are choosing…
Read moreThe package of measures announced in the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy – including the abolition of the two-child limit on benefit support and an expanded Free School Meals offer – will result in child poverty rates falling in 2026-27, the first time in nine years (outside the pandemic), according to new analysis by the Resolution…
Read moreThe Government has announced a new Child Poverty Strategy, which aims to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030. The Government says that following the reversal of the two-child limit, the strategy tackles the root causes of poverty by cutting the cost of essentials, boosting family incomes, and improving local services so every child…
Read moreNearly one in three UK households are worried about paying their winter bills, according to new figures from Ocean Finance. With energy costs rising faster than many can cope with, families face a tough few months ahead whilst Ofgem warns that bills could rise by £75 next spring. The survey also revealed that 33% of…
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