Most economists expect inflation to pick up over the next few months as lockdown restrictions ease and shops and restaurants reopen. But is this a cause for concern?

As lockdown measures begin to lift, financial markets are making their adjustments in anticipation of a rise in inflation, with bond yields picking up (meaning prices have fallen) and stock markets rotating from defensive sectors into cyclicals.

What is inflation?

Put simply, inflation measures the change in the prices of ...

Let’s be honest, on the morning of 21 October few of us were waiting with bated breath as the latest UK inflation stats were revealed. But, for millions of people, that moment was significant.

That’s because the September (Consumer Price Index) CPI inflation figure forms part of the government’s ‘triple lock’ formula used to determine the forthcoming rise in the level of State Pensions.

Triple lock

The triple-lock safeguard was introduced by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010 an...

The office of US President carries huge influence all over the world and, as a result, the way the American electorate votes on 3 November will undoubtedly impact financial markets across the globe. US elections are always occasions of great political theatre but the 2020 campaign, played out with the backdrop of a global pandemic, has very much raised the bar. However, the outcome will determine the future path of the world’s largest economy for the next four years and that prospect inevitably leads to considerable s...

Borrowers on a tracker, discounted or variable rate mortgage may have already benefited from this rate drop, but those borrowers whose mortgage deal is nearing its end, or those currently on an uncompetitive standard variable rate (SVR), should review their situation as there are some very competitive products on the market, with potential savings to be had.

Remortgaging explained

A remortgage is...

There was welcome news for young savers in the March Budget with the government announcing the Junior ISA (JISA) allowance was to be more than doubled, from £4,368 to £9,000 from 6 April 2020.

JISA and CTFs both benefit

JISAs replaced Child Trust Funds (CTF) in 2011, but those who still
hold CTF will continue to benefit from the increased allowance. Both JISA and CTF are a tax efficient way to build up savings for a child. It is not possible to have both a JISA and a CTF.

Savings for children

A junior ISA can be opened for any child u...