Ofgem cuts energy price cap from April — household bills down 7% (£10/month), average annual bill falls from £1,758 to £1,641. Govt’s £150 pledge trimmed by rising network costs (£6/month) household bills down 7%. Electricity-heavy homes gain most. Shop around.
UK inflation dropped to 3% in January—lowest since March 2025. Petrol prices, airfares, and food costs all eased. Rate cut from 3.75% could come as early as next month. Talk to us about your finances.
UK unemployment rises to 5.2%, its highest level in nearly five years 📉
Youth unemployment hits 14%, wage growth slows to 4.2%, and payroll numbers continue to fall.
The data strengthens expectations of a potential Bank of England rate cut this spring.
Apprenticeship reforms announced 📚
£725m funding to create 50,000 new apprenticeships over 3 years. New online hub, faster approval of standards (18 months to 3), and a clearing-style system to match applicants with vacancies.
Demand rising sharply, especially in accountancy.
UK growth slowed at year-end 2025 📉
The economy grew just 0.1% in Q4, below the 0.2% expected. Annual growth for 2025 was 1.3%, slightly up on 2024 but under forecasts.
Services flatlined, production rose 1.2%, while construction fell 2.1%. Business investment dropped 2.7%.
Warm Home Discount extended to 2031 🔥
Around 6m low-income households will keep getting £150 off winter energy bills through to 2030/31. The rebate is applied automatically for most, including 345,000 homes in Scotland from next winter.
Major leasehold reforms announced 🏠
From 2028, ground rents on new leases capped at £250 a year, falling to a peppercorn after 40 years. Most new flats will no longer be leasehold.
Existing leases unaffected. Consultation open until 24 April 2026.
1m taxpayers missed the 31 Jan self assessment deadline. A £100 penalty applies automatically — even if no tax is due — with further fines and interest possible.
Don’t ignore it. Act quickly.
📈 House prices edged up in January, with annual growth rising to 1.0%, according to Nationwide. Monthly prices increased 0.3%, suggesting modest momentum after a softer end to 2025. Activity slowed late last year amid Budget uncertainty.
🏭 UK manufacturing rebounded in January, with the PMI rising to 51.8 — its strongest reading since August 2024. Export orders grew for the first time in four years, and overall business activity expanded at its fastest pace since April.