George Nixon

4 days ago | thetimes.com | George Nixon

6 days ago | thetimes.com | George Nixon

The Bank of England cut interest rates from 4.5 per cent to 4.25 per cent today, the fourth cut since August amid a mix of worries about Donald Trump’s global trade tariffs and positive news on inflation.

1 week ago | thetimes.com | George Nixon

Homeowners could find it easier to switch lenders and reduce the length of their mortgage without affordability checks, under proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority. The City regulator, which is under pressure from the Treasury to loosen its rules to stimulate economic growth, has published proposals it said could make the market more competitive. Currently up to 90 per cent of homeowners stick with their lender when their deal ends.

1 week ago | thetimes.com | George Nixon

This is blasphemy for a personal finance journalist, but I no longer think shopping around for car insurance is always worth it. After years of rising prices, I was dreading renewing the cover for my 2007 Vauxhall Astra in April. The average fully comprehensive car insurance jumped from £416 a year in the first three months of 2022 to £621 at the end of 2024, according to the Association of British Insurers.

1 week ago | thetimes.com | George Nixon

Last month two of our most hated taxes rose again. Almost everyone’s council tax bill went up. In England the average bill for a Band D property rose 5 per cent to £2,280, and three quarters of councils increased bills by the maximum they could without requiring a local referendum, which is usually 5 per cent. Stamp duty also went up in April, with the threshold at which you start paying it being reduced for all buyers.