Finanse

The cost of sending a child to a state school in the UK has “significantly increased” since 2022, outstripping both inflation and earnings growth, a new report has found.more

Hospitals in England are cutting staff, closing services and planning to ration care in order to make “eye-watering” savings demanded by NHS bosses. Rehabilitation centres face being shut, talking therapies services cut and beds for end-of-life care reduced as part of efforts by England’s 215 NHS trusts to comply with a “financial reset”.more

Bank of England policymakers have cut interest rates by a quarter point to 4.25% to cushion the UK economy against the impact of rising economic uncertainty.more

For 33 percent of Poles, collecting the right amount for the holidays is the biggest financial challenge this spring; for the same group, renovation is such a challenge - according to the study "Poles' Own Wallet: Spring Challenges 2025".more

Poles working in the UK earn more than native Britons. The median monthly earnings of Polish immigrants is around £2,500, while that of Britons is around £2,400, the Economist reported in its latest issue, citing government figures.more

A one-of-a-kind mortgage offering a major financial perk – no repayments for the first three months – has been launched in the UK. The deal, unveiled by Skipton Building Society, is the latest innovation aimed at cash-strapped first-time buyers and is designed to provide them with a bit of breathing space as they settle into their new property.more

Nearly two in five (39%) people are at risk of being unable to cover even their basic needs in retirement, according to a report from Scottish Widows.more

More than half of first-time buyers received financial help from their family to make house purchases last year, according to estimates by estate agency Savills. An average of £55,572 was given in loans and gifts by the so-called bank of mum and dad to buyers, it said.more

Deliveroo, the food delivery app, has agreed to be taken over by US giant DoorDash in a deal valuing the business at £2.9bn. The deal is the latest example of a UK-listed company being taken over by a US firm.more

Landlords and sole traders, brace yourselves for a tax revolution that could catch thousands unawares, warns an expert. A call to arms has gone out to millions of self-employed people and property tycoons to get prepped for a seismic change in the way they report their earnings to HMRC.more

Shops and services may have to be forced to accept cash in the future to help protect vulnerable people who rely on it, MPs have said. A Treasury Committee report into cash acceptance stopped short of recommending a change in the law, but said the government had to improve its monitoring of the issue.more

More than 130,000 people have been awarded a collective £800 million in state pension back payments due to historical government errors. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published an update this week of cases checked as part of a correction exercise which started in January 2021.more

National Insurance (NI) tax funds social security programmes and enables you to access certain benefits. Once you've got enough credit in the tax year, you've then qualified for that tax year's National Insurance. more

The Bank of England’s governor, Andrew Bailey, has said the UK economy faces a “growth shock” as a result of Donald Trump’s trade policies. Speaking on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington, Bailey said that while he did not think the UK was close to recession at the moment, “we are certainly quite focused on the growth shock”.more

Rachel Reeves faces having to raise taxes at the autumn Budget after borrowing jumped in the UK hit by Donald Trump’s tariffs, economists are warning. Official figures showed the Government borrowed more than expected for the latest financial year.more

UK families claiming Child Benefit could get a £521 bonus this year. Child Benefit payments usually stop on August 31 in the year following a child's 16th birthday if they leave education or training. However, they may be extended for up to 20 weeks if the child, aged 16 or 17, meets certain conditions. more

The number of British households stealing about £1.5bn of gas and electricity every year is expected to rise as energy bill bad debts continue to set new records, according to fuel poverty campaigners.more

Nearly 42 per cent of Poles polled said they spent less on their Easter shopping this year than last year, according to a report by the Blix Group. However, this is a lower percentage than in the 2024 survey. Experts commenting on the data believe that Poles are becoming more comfortable with the reality of high prices. They are calculating and making purchasing decisions with more confidence thanmore

Falling petrol prices drove UK inflation down by more than expected in the year to March. Inflation was 2.6%, down from a rate of 2.8% in February, according to official data. But the fall may only be temporary as analysts say it's expected to spike from April as rising bills and higher business costs take hold.more

Bin strikes could spread to other council areas across the country as cash-strapped local authorities make further cuts, a union leader has warned as the dispute between refuse workers and the city council in Birmingham continues.more

Lent is nearly over and Easter Sunday is coming up, which means shops are full of chocolate eggs to celebrate the Christian festival. But, while lots of luxury, weird and wonderful options are on shelves this year, it has been noticed that Easter eggs are getting more expensive. more

Job vacancies have fallen to the lowest level in nearly four years, suggesting demand for workers is weakening as employment costs grow. The number of jobs on offer fell to 781,000 in the first three months of the year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, while payroll numbers also declined. more

The UK has today announced that it will increase financial support to exporters by £20bn, particularly those affected by the tariff increases introduced by the US, in order to give them stability and certainty in the new era of global trade.more

The UK economy unexpectedly grew by 0.5% in February, official figures showed, in a boost for the chancellor Rachel Reeves before an expected downturn sparked by Donald Trump’s tariff war.more

Ukraine will receive another tranche of military aid worth £450 million, AP reported today, citing the UK Ministry of Defence. Additional funds will also be provided by Norway through the UK-run International Fund for Ukraine.more