Inflation sees surprise fall to 6.7%

The UK’s headline rate of inflation has nudged down, helped by an easing of food and accommodation prices. UK CPI inflation was reported at 6.7% for August, compared to the 6.8% recorded in July and consensus expectations of an uptick to 7.0%. The ONS data shows an even greater drop in the core inflation reading: annual core CPI (excluding food, …

State pension to rise 8% next year as govt cost to hit £134bn.

The expected 8% increase for the 2024-25 financial year follows the 10.1% state pension increase this year. The Treasury is set to increase the state pension by more than 8% from next April as record earnings growth looks to exceed inflation, according to the Financial Times. The value of the state pension is determined by the pension triple lock, which …

Treasury collects £2.6bn in 13 weeks as IHT receipts rise

Fuelled by record June receipts and rising interest rates The government netted £2.6bn from inheritance tax (IHT) between April and July 2023, which was £0.2bn higher than in the same period a year earlier, latest official statistics show. Figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) showed that receipts in June 2023 were the highest monthly total on record and could …

Inflation falls by 1.1% to 6.8%

Core inflation remained unchanged between June and July. CPI inflation rose by 6.8% in the 12 months to July, down from 7.9% in June, the latest ONS figures reveal. On a monthly basis, CPI fell by 0.4% in July, compared with a rise of 0.6% in July 2022. CPIH inflation, which includes owner occupiers’ housing costs, saw an annual rise …

State pension likely to rise 8.2% to almost £11,500 ahead of election

Another bumper increase in the state pension could follow 10.1% hike last April Wage inflation was 8.2 per cent in May-July in official data released today The full rate state pension could top £220 a week if earnings growth sticks at its current 8.2 per cent, as pundits reckon the Government is highly unlikely to break the triple lock pledge …

Just’s annuity sales at highest since pension freedoms

First-half sales up 54% as higher interest rates boost annuity offering. Pension provider Just Group saw its best six months for annuity sales since the introduction of pension freedoms on the back of rising rates. Half-year results published this morning showed that in the first half of 2023, Just’s guaranteed income for life sales grew by 54% from £305m last …