Three million households skipping meals as confidence in the economy plummets

Three million households are being forced to skip meals and cut family visits, according to new research from Which? Which?’s latest Consumer Insight Tracker shows that households across the country are having to take more and more drastic measures to mitigate rising costs.  In the month to 10th April, analysis found consumer confidence fell to…

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Criminal duo sentenced to over two years for selling fraud services online

1st May 2026 Consumer Lending | #fraud

Two men have been sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to a combined two years and eleven months for working together to sell fraudulent SMS spamming services online to fraudsters. The sentencing follows investigation and arrest by a specialist banking industry-sponsored police unit, the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU). Between June 2020 and November…

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New debt resolution company launches

New business debt resolution company, Rezolva, has launched with the aim of helping businesses recover overdue invoices faster. Late payment remains a persistent challenge for businesses. More than half of firms experience delayed or frozen payments, placing pressure on working capital and limiting growth. Rezolva focuses on early debt resolution. The aim is to help…

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Higher mortgage rates push repayments above the cost of renting

30th April 2026 Consumer Lending | #mortgage rates

Latest data from Rightmove has found that higher mortgage rates have pushed monthly repayments above the cost of renting for the first time since June 2025. The average advertised monthly rent across the UK is currently £1,547, compared to an average new monthly mortgage payment of £1,670. Rightmove used the current average asking price for…

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GB Bank appoints new CEO

30th April 2026 Appointments |

GB Bank has announced that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mike Says will retire from his role at the end of April 2026, he will be succeeded by Eddie Trahearn, currently Chief Strategy & Financial Officer, subject to regulatory approval. Since joining in 2021, Says has overseen rapid growth and transformation. Under his leadership, GB Bank…

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Hospitality business closures accelerate across the UK

30th April 2026 Business | #business closures

Britain is losing 3.4 pubs and restaurants per day, with more than 350 closures in the first quarter alone. Rising energy costs, higher taxes and weaker consumer demand are placing sustained pressure on the sector, with further closures expected throughout 2026. Soaring costs for businesses and consumers led to a 0.3% drop in Britain’s number of licensed premises in the…

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One in four pensioners are struggling financially

New research by Age UK has found that 3.4 million (28%) pensioners, more than one in four, are struggling financially, and nearly half of them have been struggling for three years or more. Notably, a fifth (22%) of those struggling, equivalent to 740,000 aged 66+ said they have been struggling financially for more than five…

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FCA to review APRs as a borrowing cost

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a review into whether Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) help consumers understand borrowing costs, with the regulator seeking views on whether it should change how these are communicated in credit advertising. APRs indicate the yearly cost of borrowing, including interest and fees. A representative APR means at least half…

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Financial services complaints rise to 1.87m

Latest complaints data from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for H2 2025 showed that financial services firms received 1.87m complaints, a 0.9% increase from 2025 H1 (1.85m)  The main product groups to experience a notable increase in their complaint numbers were insurance & pure protection, which increased 10.1% from 717,523 (2025 H1) to 790,329 (2025…

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Generative AI with human oversight could transform debt advice sector

A new study released by Money Advice Liaison Group (MALG) and AI firm Wyser has outlined how generative AI could reshape the UK’s regulated debt advice landscape, if deployed with precision, humility and human oversight. The new research funded by the Money & Pensions Service (MaPS) highlighted the deep structural complexities, widespread vulnerability and a…

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Just under half of young adults understand what ‘APR’ means

A survey of 2,000 UK consumers found a clear generational divide in financial literacy, with 18-24-year-olds consistently less confident and less informed than older age groups on how credit works according to research by Creditspring. Just 45% of young adults said they understand what ‘APR’ means, compared with 67% of over-55s. Fewer than half (46%)…

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Shop price inflation increases by 1%

Latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have shown that shop price inflation rose by 1% year-on-year in April, a slowdown from 1.2% in March and below the three-month average of 1.1%  Non-Food inflation decreased to -0.1% year on year in April, against growth of 0.1% in March. This is below the 3-month average…

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Mid-market businesses positive about AI investment returns

Mid-market businesses are feeling overwhelmingly optimistic when it comes to their near-term investment in artificial intelligence (AI), according to new research from BDO, the accountancy and business advisory firm. The bi-monthly survey of 500 mid-market businesses revealed that the majority (97%) said they expect to see a return on their investment in AI within the…

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