Financial matters

[SteveH]

A series of essential household bills are rising at the start of April, with warnings that single parents are among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices and council tax are all going up on Tuesday , although the minimum wage is also increasing.

The charity Citizens Advice said the finances of millions of people on the lowest incomes were "already stretched to breaking point".

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly1vwd57y2o

[SteveH]

President Donald Trump has announced new import taxes on all goods entering the US, in the biggest upheaval of the international trade order since the aftermath of World War Two.

His plan sets a baseline tariff of 10% on all imports, consistent with his proposal during last year's White House campaign.

Items from about 60 trade partners that the White House described as the "worst offenders", including the European Union and China, face higher rates - payback for unfair trade policies, Trump said.

Analysts said the trade war escalation was likely to lead to higher prices for Americans and slower growth in the US, while some countries around the world could be plunged into recession.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm257z1y2q9o


Office lights in some corners of Westminster were on much later than usual last night.
Why? Because ministers and officials, just like so many others, were watching the telly to see what US President Donald Trump would have to say, the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds among them.

The president, brandishing a giant rectangular piece of card packed with the new tariff increases, unleashing waves of anxiety across factory floors, boardrooms and government ministries the world over.

Folk in government in the UK had picked up a sense of the mood music – a sense that the UK was "in the good camp rather than the bad camp" as one figure put it to me – but they had no idea in advance precisely what that would mean.

We now do know what it means - a 10% tariff on the UK's exports to the US.
cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn05d987x9ro

[SteveH]

The sweeping new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump have triggered ructions across financial markets, with global share prices seeing hefty falls.

It's the latest example of big shifts in stock markets making the news, whether they are booms or falls.

As companies grow, they issue shares. The largest companies in the UK have shares which are bought and sold on the London Stock Exchange.

Their collective performance is often quoted amid a blizzard of numbers that may feel confusing and irrelevant. Rarely does anyone mention the FTSE 100 during a coffee with friends.

But there are good reasons why this performance affects your life and finances..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c33zdz2m1e2o

[Hugo]

HMRC to send out thousands of letters to households who earn more than £23,000
The letters could be bad news for some if they have underpaid tax

Why £23,000 when the tax threshold is £12,750 ?


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/hmrc-send-out-thousands-letters-31421078

[Hugo]

DWP bank account checks for claimants £6,000 savings or more
To qualify for benefits, typically claimants must not possess savings exceeding £16,000




https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/dwp-bank-account-checks-claimants-31427517

[SteveH]

Falling petrol prices drove UK inflation down by more than expected in the year to March.

Inflation was 2.6%, down from a rate of 2.8% in February, according to official data.

But the fall may only be temporary as analysts say it's expected to spike from April as rising bills and higher business costs take hold.

"The only significant offset came from the price of clothes which rose strongly this month," said Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The average price of petrol fell by 1.6p per litre between February and March to 137.5p per litre.

cont/stats  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g2eyp79y3o

[Hugo]

Early Easter payment boost of £921 for some state pensioners
State pension recipients are set to receive their next payment this week, but some may see it arrive in their accounts slightly earlier than expected due to Easter





https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/early-easter-payment-boost-921-31444020

[Hugo]

PIP claimants with four conditions will avoid cuts - DWP assessor says
The tightening of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rules will hit an estimated 400,000 Brits when they come into force in November next year





https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/pip-claimants-four-conditions-avoid-31472630

[Hugo]

Five ways for first-time buyers to get on the housing ladder

I would like to add a sixth way and that is to make houses affordable to local people.    Is that too much to ask?


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy7n9441r5o

[SteveH]

THE PRINCIPALITY branches in Llandudno and Colwyn Bay will be "safe until at least 2030", the building society has said.

Principality Building Society is Wales’ largest building society, and is celebrating its 165th birthday this year.

As part of its Annual General Meeting (AGM), the bank has committed to maintaining its high street and community presence until at least the end of 2030

This follows the closure of several banks in the Conwy area, including HSBC and Halifax in Colwyn Bay...........

cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/25109431.llandudno-colwyn-bay-principality-branches-safe-2030/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Reflecting on the above post, it's a bit cheeky to say THE PRINCIPALITY branches in Llandudno and Colwyn Bay will be "safe until at least 2030" I would think as the biggest building society in Wales, we would not expect such a statement, and I think this will be detrimental for investors to hear, very bad judgement ................

[Hugo]

Bonfire Night cost row as council billed thousands
A row has broken out after a town council was charged thousands of pounds for hosting Bonfire Night celebrations.

Colwyn Bay town council was charged for barriers, bins, and staff management by Conwy council for the annual 5 November event which takes place on the town's promenade, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

It is organised and funded by the town council's fireworks committee and previously cost £16,000, but that has since risen to £26,000, town councillor David Carr said.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9w84k9gl52o

[Hugo]

Interest rates expected to be cut by Bank of England

Interest rates are widely expected to be cut on Thursday, with further falls predicted for later in the year.

Analysts say a cut to 4.25% from 4.5% by the Bank of England is highly likely, although no change or a bigger reduction remain possibilities.

Such a move would make borrowing money by businesses and individuals less expensive, but there are likely to be lower returns for savers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyqyp7xp12o

[Hugo]

How to claim the DWP Attendance Allowance online: Key details and limitations explained
The DWP has shared a new way for people to claim the benefit, but there's a key limitation with the online service



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/how-claim-dwp-attendance-allowance-31603284