News - Page 78 of 116 - Auto Enrolment

“Online sales were hit particularly hard due to lower levels of discretionary spending” As expected, the latest data set from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlighted that consumer spending, impacted by rising costs, led to a reduction in UK retail sales throughout March. As people tightened up on non-essential spending, retail sales volumes fell […]

Residential Property Review – April 2022

Supply shortages fail to blunt sales Low availability is once again the key trend in the UK housing market, even as stock levels edge upwards and sales remain strong. In March, estate agents reported a 3.5% monthly rise in the level of stock on their books, according to Zoopla. Moreover, the number of homes coming […]

Commercial Property Market Review – April 2022

Industrial space in high demand in Q1 Elevated occupier demand has driven strong UK industrials and logistics take-up in Q1 2022, according to the latest research. The take-up of 10.43 million sq. ft in the first quarter is double the total in the same period last year, CBRE noted. Q1 2022 saw take-up more than […]

Life changes – so should your mortgage

The cost of living has shot up in recent months, with inflation expected to reach a peak of 8.7% in Q41 and many families facing a significant hike on their annual energy bills from April. With finances squeezed, every penny counts – so it’s important to consider all the options for streamlining your outgoings. If […]

Pension wealth outweighs property wealth

New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Wealth and Assets Survey1 has revealed that the largest single component of household wealth is private pension holdings. In the latest recorded period (April 2018 to March 2020) pensions represented 42% of aggregate wealth, up from 34% (2006-08), an increase in pension wealth of nearly £70k […]

Renters feel the extra strain of cost-of-living crisis

The cost-of-living crisis is likely to be felt by most Britons this year, with increases in energy and food costs and the increase in National Insurance Contributions from April. In addition, renters need to add in the rising cost of renting a property, with the average price for a new tenancy up by 8.5% from […]

News in Review

“We are facing a crisis on top of a crisis” Speaking in Washington DC prior to the release of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) biannual World Economic Outlook this week, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva previewed her thoughts on the global economy. Opening her speech, she declared, “To put it simply: we are facing a crisis […]

News in Review

“This will reduce our dependence on power sources exposed to volatile international prices we cannot control” During a week when the news agenda was again dominated by harrowing scenes from Ukraine, the government unveiled its long-awaited Energy Security Strategy. The new plan places renewed emphasis on nuclear power along with an increase in wind, hydrogen […]

Time to get moving this spring?

As we move into spring, aspiring movers will likely find themselves feeling galvanised to proceed with their homeownership goals. Whether you’re a first-time buyer looking to get onto the property ladder, a second stepper seeking the perfect home for a growing family, or a downsizer on the hunt for a smaller property to help build […]

Striking a balance this spring

As well as being a season of hope and renewal, spring is also viewed as the ideal time to declutter and reorganise. The last couple of years have taught us the importance of achieving balance in our lives – this extends to our finance too, making now an opportune time for investors to review and […]