UK economic growth has been revised upwards by the International Monetary Fund – 1.2% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026 The government plans to double £25bn+ pension megafunds to improve retirements and boost UK investment Retail confidence plunges to a five-year low, with sales falling and businesses bracing for tougher conditions ‘An economic recovery is […]
Author archives: servicedemoevolvesites
Economic Review May 2025
GDP unexpectedly rose by 0.7% in Q1 2025, driven by services, production and investment growth The Bank of England cut interest rates despite inflation jumping to a 15-month high at 3.5% The UK labour market shows weakness as payrolls drop and unemployment edges up to 4.5% UK growth beats expectations First quarter gross domestic product […]
Wealth – In the news
Research highlights key differences in wealth transfer preferences and family financial priorities between men and women Top financial priorities for 2025 include enjoying life (34%), building emergency savings (30%) and pension saving (11%) AI now accounts for 42.5% of financial fraud attempts, with cases rising 80% over the past three years Women put children first […]
Equity Release – cause for optimism
Over 15,000 active customers and £622m in lending recorded in Q4 2024, up from £525m in Q4 2023 A 3.3% increase in UK house prices contributed to larger loan sizes and improved product availability. A 27% rise in returning customers using further advances shows growing confidence in equity release Looking at The Equity Release Council’s […]
News in Review
The CPI rate of inflation rose to 3.5% in April—above forecasts—driven by energy, services and air fares The £20,000 ISA limit is to remain but changes to the cash ISA component are under review The government is expected to expand eligibility for winter fuel payments in the Autumn Budget “April’s rise in inflation was widely […]
Residential Property Review – May 2025
Knight Frank raises its UK house price growth forecast to 3.5% for 2025 amid rate cut optimism March saw a surge in transactions as buyers rushed to beat the Stamp Duty changes Buy-to-let investors increasingly target northern regions for affordability and rental yield advantages Improving rate outlook boosts UK forecasts Knight Frank has raised its […]
Commercial Property Market Review – May 2025
Q1 2025 West End investments hit £1.71bn, driven by three major transactions despite fewer deals UK commercial property demand is rebounding, with offices and industrials gaining, while retail lags behind The Big Six cities, especially Manchester and Leeds, show strong office market recovery and occupier demand West End investment rebounds London’s West End commercial property […]
News in Review
The UK economy grew 0.7% in Q1 2025, exceeding forecasts and signalling potential recovery momentum A new UK-EU deal includes border easing, a youth mobility scheme and renewed defence cooperation The FCA reveals 13 million have low financial resilience, with widespread savings shortfalls and mental stress “The economy is beginning to turn a corner” The […]
Navigating uncertainty together
Economic and political uncertainty can lead to impulsive financial decisions—long-term planning is key Media headlines create noise, but financial plans should be tailored to personal goals, not speculation. A strong financial strategy is built to adapt—seek expert advice to stay on track Over the past five years, we’ve experienced a global pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, political […]
Surging demand for protection insurance – are you covered?
Income protection demand is expected to grow, with 51% of financial advisers predicting an increase in 2025 44% of advisers anticipate rising demand for life insurance, as more people seek financial security With economic uncertainty, more individuals are prioritising private health insurance and income protection The demand for health insurance, income protection and life insurance […]
