Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
New FICO data has suggested that the tide might be turning on consumer finances with average card spend falling and early missed payment rates rising as furloughs finish FICO says that though its, analysis of UK card trends for October 2021, says that it appears that with the first signs that lockdown savings — which…
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Many people with significant amounts of outstanding borrowing will be worrying about the double whammy of inflation and higher interest rates following the Bank of England’s decision to raise the policy rate. According to StepChange Debt Charity, higher interest rates will push up the cost of borrowing while being unlikely to feed through to relief…
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Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that inflation hit 5.1% in the 12 months to November, exceeding forecasts of a 4.7% increase and driving the rate further beyond the Bank of England’s (BoE) 2% target. The rate up on the 4.2% recorded a month earlier and means inflation is now at its…
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Researchers from abrdn Financial Fairness Trust have issued a stark warning on the post-pandemic outlook for living standards in the UK following an extensive review of over 200 reports examining the impact of the pandemic. Although the macro-economic forecasts for the UK are comparatively positive, at a household level the situation is more mixed. The…
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New research Opinium has found that 8% of retired people are concerned about being able to pay bills. The research found that 41% said being able to pay their bills in retirement was a realistic goal. Worryingly 8% did not think it was a realistic prospect, whilst 11% did not think it was realistic that…
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Analysis from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) has found that half of UK families have seen their disposable incomes shrink in the last two years, with the poorest half of the population seeing their incomes squeezed by £110. The report also shows that the richest 5% are £3,300 a year better off. The analysis found…
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Rising living costs, reduced incomes, and cuts to support among the easons more people than last year will turn to borrowing to pay for the festive season according to research by StepChange debt charity. The report says that this Christmas will be a time of financial distress for many households, with more people expecting to…
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New analysis by UK Finance has indicated that unsecured debt levels have increased in line with spending, but customers continue to pay off their card bills on time each month. The analysis also indicated that mortgage arrears ticked down overall but heavier arrears continued to rise. Possessions increased slowly but a substantial backlog of cases…
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More than eight in 10 (86%) consumers are concerned about the rising cost of living and have taken steps to reduce their household spending, according to research by Scottish Friendly. A survey of 2,000 UK adults found that more than one in three (36%) are anxious that inflation will mean they don’t have enough money…
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Two thirds of people (65%) say the cost of living has risen in the past month according to new ONS figures. 87% say the price of food has risen, 77% that the cost of energy bills is up, and 76% that fuel prices are higher. The older people are, the more likely they are to…
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New analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) suggests a typical UK family will spend £1,700 more per year on household costs in 2022. The forecast for the BBC’s Panorama says a family of two adults and two children is set to spend £33.60 more per week compared with December 2020 due…
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New research has revealed that over half (55%) of consumers are feeling positive about their personal financial future. The research by Encore Capital Group asked 2,600 people in Encore’s largest markets, the United States (US) and UK their feelings about personal finances and the economy, and explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With Encore’s…
Read moreResearch from PwC suggests the economy will be hit by a triple whammy of a climbing cost of living, higher interest rates and the end of pandemic-related support from the government, with weaker household spending likely to slow the recovery. The analysis says more affluent households will be able to shake off the impact of…
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