Chancellor pledges to give workers the legal right over where employers pay contributions Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced he will consult on “pot for life” pensions reforms. In the Autumn Statement today (22 November) Hunt said the government would consult on giving pension savers a “legal right to require a new employer to pay pension contributions into their existing pension”. …
UK inflation sharply falls in October to 4.6%
Official figures show inflation down from 6.7% in September UK inflation declined sharply in October, falling to an annualised rate of 4.6% from 6.7% in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The drop in housing prices was the largest contribution to the fall in inflation, contributing 1.6 percentage points to the 2.1 percentage point decline. …
Bank Rate Steady At 5.25% As Central Banks Push Pause Button
The Bank of England has left borrowing costs untouched for the second time in a row, as monetary policymakers around the world press pause in their fight against inflation. In a widely expected move, the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), voted 6-3 to maintain the Bank Rate at a 15-year high of 5.25%. The three in the minority voted to …
Govt stealth tax sees IHT bills hit record £3.9bn
HMRC took in £3.9bn from inheritance in six months to end of September, £400m more than in the same period last year. The government collected a record amount from inheritance tax (IHT) in the six months to the end of September as frozen thresholds mean more estates are being hit by the tax. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) took in …
UK inflation remains steady at 6.7% in September
Core inflation at 6.1% UK inflation has remained steady as prices rose 6.7% year-on-year in September, matching the previous month’s figure, the lowest rate since March 2022. The Office for National Statistics said today (18 September) that prices had risen by 0.5% between August and September, matching market expectations. Core inflation, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, saw a …
Bank of England holds rates at 5.25% after inflation falls
MPC in split decision after inflation unexpectedly fell in August The Bank of England (BoE) has paused its hiking cycle and opted to keep interest rates at the current level of 5.25% after inflation unexpectedly fell in August. It was a tight split decision by the Bank, with five members of the Monetary Policy Committee voting to maintain the Bank …