At the start of 2023, the Prime Minister pledged to halve inflation. The goal was reached, but how much credit can he take for the achievement? Source: ONS Inflation across 2023, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) ended at 4.0%, a far cry from the 10.5% of 2022 and the October 2021 peak of 11.1%. The drop had been widely predicted, although in the final month of the year there was a small surprise: the rate rose 0.1% whereas the pundits had forecast a fall of the

As the FTSE 100 turned 40 on 3 January 2024, we look at how it compared to its predecessor and the lessons learned from four decades of growth versus inflation. Source: Google Finance. The Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 Index, to use the Footsie’s full name, has celebrated its 40th anniversary. It is a significant milestone and an opportunity to take stock of the index’s history and position. The UK’s benchmark stock market index was launched in 1984 by the London

A date to note in this year’s calendar is the early Spring Budget on Wednesday 6 March. The Treasury issued a press release in the time between Christmas and the New Year revealing the Spring Budget date, a week earlier than in 2023. The unusual timing of the announcement may seem strange, but there were two inter-linked reasons which could explain it: · First, local and mayoral elections will be held in England on 2 May 2024. If – and it looks unlikely at present – t

From 6 April 2024, individual savings account (ISA) rules will be changing, mostly for the better. In April, ISAs will celebrate their 25th birthday. However, the ISA was hardly a new-born back in 1999, as it was effectively a reworking of two previous tax-favoured savings plans – the personal equity plan (PEP) and tax exempt special savings account (TESSA). Over the years, successive governments have tweaked the ISA rules and added new variants so now there are arguably five

At the start of 2023, the Prime Minister pledged to halve inflation. The goal was reached, but how much credit can he take for the achievement? Source: ONS Inflation across 2023, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) ended at 4.0%, a far cry from the 10.5% of 2022 and the October 2021 peak of 11.1%. The drop had been widely predicted, although in the final month of the year there was a small surprise: the rate rose 0.1% whereas the pundits had forecast a fall of the

With Christmas and the New Year over, it is time to turn your thoughts to planning for the tax year end. While many parts of the tax landscape have been frozen, such as the personal allowance and most income tax thresholds, that does not mean you should ignore tax year-end planning as we approach 5 April. Among the areas to consider are: · Pension contributions: The tax limits for pension contributions were eased at the start of the current tax year. You may now be able t