“We have to stay the course” As widely expected, the Bank of England’s (BoE’s) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to increase Bank Rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 4.5%, at its meeting last week. Seven members of the committee voted to raise the rate, while two members favoured maintaining Bank Rate at […]
Author archives: matthew
Taxman on the trail of unpaid IHT
HMRC has set up a new specialist team to target estates of wealthy deceased individuals in order to check whether a greater Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability may have been due than originally calculated by estate executors. This clampdown has seen record amounts of unpaid tax being clawed back by HMRC with levels expected to rise […]
News in Review
“May has the potential to be a historic month for the hospitality sector, which is set for one of its busiest times in recent memory” The Coronation of King Charles III was expected to bring an additional £180m to UK hospitality and leisure businesses over the long weekend, according to recent estimates from Barclays. The […]
Home Finance – In the news
Buyers priced out Some 41% of participants in a recent survey1 agreed with the statement, ‘I cannot afford to live in the area I want or need to live in’. Many renters and homeowners alike were unhappy with their current location, with job opportunities (37%), proximity to friends and family (35%) and a better lifestyle […]
Money – In the news
Digital pound likely this decade The Treasury and the Bank of England have started consultations on a potential digital pound, or central bank digital currency (CBDC), that could be used by households and businesses instead of cash for everyday payments in-store and online. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said, “We want to investigate what is possible first, […]
Wealth – In the news
Land driving surge in UK’s net worth Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)1 shows that the UK’s net worth rose by £1trn in 2021, to total £11.8trn, the largest annual increase on record (9.2%). This rise can be attributed to the increasing value of land, accounting for over 60% of net worth. […]
News in Review
“People shortages are a massive issue and employers can see little sign of improvement” The latest quarterly Recruitment Outlook from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has highlighted that challenges remain for businesses surrounding the hiring of new staff. The survey of over 5,000 UK companies of differing sizes, from various sectors, who are attempting […]
Equity release – on the rise again
An increasing number of older homeowners are choosing to release equity, latest figures1 reveal, with cost-of-living pressures still the main reason for tapping into the value of their home. Equity release allows over-55s to access some of the value of their home as tax-free cash. In total, homeowners used equity release to borrow £6.2bn in […]
Over 50 and re-joining the workforce? Remember your pension
It’s estimated that the number of people aged 50 to 64 who are economically inactive sits at 3.6 million, which is 300,000 higher than pre-pandemic1. There is no doubt that the UK’s economic growth will, in part, be reliant on getting the over-50s back into work. If you retired early but are now having second […]
Economic Review – April 2023
Recent signs of economic resilience While the latest gross domestic product (GDP) statistics revealed that the UK economy stagnated in February, recent survey evidence paints a more positive picture with signs of ‘encouraging resilience’ and ‘growth momentum.’ Official data released last month by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the economy saw no […]
