A third of couples (31%) planning to marry in 2027 or beyond will use loans to fund their weddings according to new research by Pepper Money, This is a significant increase from 23% in 2019. This shift highlights the growing financial strain on engaged couples. They are also less likely to be able to rely solely…
Read moreNew research reveals that there is healthy optimism among brokers about the future of the UK mortgage sector, despite a challenging economic backdrop, including stamp duty rises expected in April and falling rent prices causing worries for buy-to-let buyers. The research, conducted by Nottingham Building Society, gathered the opinions of mortgage brokers across the UK,…
Read moreResearch amongst 1,500 UK parents with children aged 0-15 years, conducted by 3Gem on behalf of Scottish Friendly, shows six out of 10 (58%) of parents are concerned their child won’t be able to afford to live independently. With over half (55%) worried that the cost of the deposit for a rented accommodation is out…
Read moreNew research by Nationwide has found that strong earnings growth has made home purchasing slightly more affordable for first-time buyers. The data shows that a typical buyer with a 20% deposit now spends 36% of their monthly take-home pay on mortgage payments, down from 2023 but still above the long-run average of 30%. Earnings growth remains…
Read moreMortgage affordability improved for the second consecutive month in November, new analysis from Stonebridge reveals. The mortgage and protection network’s latest Mortgage Affordability Index shows that monthly repayments accounted for 36.3% of the average borrower’s salary in November. This is down significantly from 40% in September and 38.7% in October, the data shows. The last…
Read moreJames Sleight and Stratford Hamilton of PKF Littlejohn Advisory have been appointed as Joint Administrators of London Community Credit Union (LCCU) LCCU whose membership covers residents and employees who live, work or study in the London boroughs of Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest or the City of London. LCCU’s Regulatory bodies have…
Read moreNew Freedom of Information (FOI) data from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) analysed by Quilter has revealed a significant rise in the number of people taking out mortgages with a term of 35 years or more, which will see them paying off their loans well into their 70s. In the first nine months of 2024…
Read moreLatest ONS data has shown that inflation dropped slightly to 2.5% in December, up from 2.3% in October, down from 2.6% in November. Commenting on the inflation figures, Paul Noble, CEO of Chetwood Bank, said “Some good news to start the year for Britons. Many will have approached today’s result with some apprehension, but 2025…
Read moreRent and mortgage spending increased 1.8 per cent year-on-year last month, the lowest rate of growth since August 2024, according to the latest Barclays Property Insights report. Though encouraging, costs continue to increase, and consumers’ confidence in their ability to afford their rental and mortgage payments dropped to 52 per cent in December (down 3…
Read moreOptimism in the financial services (FS) sector fell at the quickest pace since September 2022, according to the latest CBI Financial Services Survey. That is despite business volumes growing at a faster pace in the quarter to December. The quarterly survey, conducted between 21st November and 9th December 2024, showed that FS firms expect a…
Read moreConsumer credit grew by £0.9 billion in November, down from £2.3 billion in November 2023, according to latest Bank of England data. The figures show that consumer credit growth dropped to its weakest level in more than two years. The data also showed that mortgage approvals fell in November. However the figures still remain above…
Read moreThe majority of UK households are heading into 2025 feeling financially secure, but more people think the health of the economy is worsening than improving according to KPMG’s UK Consumer Pulse survey. The analysis shows that 57% of people feel financially secure, while just a fifth (21%) feel insecure. While half of those polled said…
Read moreYounger Brits are proving to be savvier with their finances than older generations, a new survey has shown. The study, conducted by credit score app CredAbility, reveals that nearly 60% of young adults (18- to 34-year-olds) understand their credit score and how it works, compared to just 42% of over-55s. The study also found that…
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