Latest data from Hargreaves Lansdown has found that households with unsecured debts (like credit cards and loans) spend an average of £259 a month on them. Bank of England showed that the annual growth rate for all consumer credit was 8.1% and for credit cards it was 12.1% – the highest since January 2024. In…
Read moreFree debt and money advice service, Money Wellness, has reported a significant rise in people seeking support over the festive period, highlighting growing financial pressures on households as they head into 2026. Between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, 6,083 people contacted Money Wellness for advice on managing debt – a 29% increase on last year.…
Read moreLatest Bank of England data has shown that credit card borrowing rose at the fastest annual rate for almost two years in November. Net borrowing through credit cards was £1 billion, up from £700m in October 2025. Net borrowing of consumer credit by individuals increased to £2.1 billion in November from £1.7 billion in October.…
Read moreA 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 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 moreCredit Connect has published its annual Credit & Collections Technology Awards review. The awards review highlights the unique transparency of the Credit & Collections Technology Awards, with data graphs showcasing the results, accompanied by judges’ comments. The award’s rigorous and transparent process enables each company that enters the awards an opportunity to receive a bespoke…
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 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 moreAs people across the country battle an unrelenting living standards crisis, Citizens Advice has revealed reforming bill support across essential markets, including energy and water, could save eligible households a staggering £950 a year. That’s the equivalent of £79 a month, which amounts to an income boost of almost 6% for low-income households. Citizens Advice’s…
Read moreOnly 14% of households are worried about debt, but fewer than one in five (19%) are classed as resilient when it comes to their use of it, according to research by the HL Savings & Resilience Barometer. The data also showed that across the board, almost half (46%) of debt is used for consumption rather…
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