“As consumers gear up to spend more… there’s a brighter outlook for the coming months” Last Tuesday, figures from the latest Barclays Consumer Spend Report revealed that consumer card spending fell to a three-year low in May. As households continue to feel the squeeze, overall spending grew by just 1.0% for the month, its lowest […]
Author archives: servicedemoevolvesites
AI & scams – don’t get caught out
Although there is much excitement surrounding the advent and development of artificial intelligence (AI), there are some serious risks involved – namely, the prevalence of scams that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Types of scams There are a few main scams to be aware of: Who is at threat? Everyone risks falling victim to […]
Reaching self-actualisation in retirement
To enjoy a financially secure retirement, it’s important to spend time doing some in-depth thinking well in advance to determine your goals and requirements in order to achieve the lifestyle you dream of. You need a robust financial plan. When thinking about the income you’ll need in retirement, many people find it helpful to think […]
News in Review
“The market appears to be showing signs of resilience” The UK experienced a modest rebound in house price growth in May, according to the latest Nationwide House Price Index, released on Friday. Prices rose by 0.4% month-on-month to reach an average house price of £264,249. The annual growth rate picked up to 1.3%, from 0.6% […]
Economic Review – May 2024
UK growth rate at two-year high Last month’s release of first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) statistics confirmed the UK economy has now exited the shallow recession entered during the latter half of last year, while survey evidence suggests private sector output has continued to expand across the past two months. The latest GDP data published […]
Have you got your mortgage covered?
Taking out life insurance may not be a legal requirement if you have a mortgage, but it certainly is sensible to have. The benefits Not only does life insurance provide financial security in a hypothetical future, but it may also offer you some peace of mind knowing that your loved ones would be able to […]
Transfer window
Recently published research suggests the long-heralded ‘great wealth transfer’ is now firmly underway, which inevitably heightens the need for carefully considered intergenerational financial planning as assets continue to flow down the generations. The great transfer Dubbed by analysts the ‘great wealth transfer,’ the next two decades are set to witness the largest ever intergenerational transfer […]
News in Review
“I will fight for every vote” Last Wednesday, hot on the heels of fresh inflation data, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took to a rain-soaked Downing Street podium to announce the date of the General Election – which is due to be held on 4 July. The countdown is on. The statement signals the start of […]
Residential Property Review – May 2024
Housing market latest The property market continues to find its feet after a difficult 2023, with buyers remaining cautious due to the higher cost of borrowing. Mortgage rates may not be as high as they were last summer, but they are still elevated. While most experts agree that Bank Rate will be cut this year, […]
Commercial Property Review – May 2024
Central London office market – a Q1 update Data from Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) shows that the central London office market had a slightly weaker start to the year. January to March saw the lowest quarterly leasing activity since Q1 2021, with 1.5m sq. ft transacted. This is nearly a third (31%) lower than the […]