Kevin Peachey

United Kingdom

Correspondent at BBC

Cost of living correspondent, BBC News. Covering all aspects of personal finance.

Articles

The UK inflation rate has eased

1 week ago | bbc.com | Kevin Peachey

Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentThe rate of rising prices - inflation - has eased for the second month in a row, official figures show. In March, prices rose at an annual rate of 2.6%, far slower than the 11% inflation peak seen in 2022. Petrol and toy prices have fallen, a relief for drivers and parents, while food prices are unchanged. However, this data is for last month, and analysts suggest it is the "calm before a storm".
Biggest choice of low-deposit mortgages for 17 years

1 week ago | bbc.com | Kevin Peachey

Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentMore low-deposit mortgages are available to choose from than at any time since the financial crisis of 2008, according to new figures. The number of deals that need a deposit of 5% or 10% have risen to their highest level since then, data from financial information service Moneyfacts suggests. The extra choice is a boost for first time buyers, although house prices and mortgage rates are higher than they were for much of the last 17 years.
Boost for carers and pensioners as new tax year starts

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Kevin Peachey

Boost for carers and pensioners as new tax year startsKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentBBCStephanie Swann works and cares for her sonCarers can now work for longer without losing a key payment - as the state pension and benefits rise for millions of people. While pensioners are receiving a bigger increase than the current rate of price rises, benefits are going up at a slower rate.
Why should I care if share prices fall?

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Kevin Peachey

Changes in the FTSE 100 and other indexes are not just for financial experts, they can affect our lives.
Single parents hit hardest by 'awful April' bill rises

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Kevin Peachey

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 in what has been dubbed "awful April", 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".
Car finance case could spark billions in driver payouts

3 weeks ago | bbc.com | Kevin Peachey

Car finance case could spark billions in driver payoutsKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentBBCMarcus Johnson bought his first car on financeA case to determine whether millions of motorists are in line for compensation will be heard by the UK's most senior judges this week. A Court of Appeal judgement last year sent shockwaves through the car finance sector, when it ruled that hidden commission payments to dealers were unlawful.
Millions give less to charity as bills rise

3 weeks ago | bbc.com | Kevin Peachey

Millions give less to charity as bills riseKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentGetty ImagesAn estimated four million fewer people are donating money to charity compared to before Covid, owing to squeezed household budgets and a lack of interest from younger individuals. A survey by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) found that just half of the people it asked made donations last year.
Three ways the Spring Statement could affect you and your money

4 weeks ago | bbc.com | Kevin Peachey

Three ways the Spring Statement could affect you and your moneyKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentGetty ImagesTalk of growth forecasts and self-imposed financial rules may feel very distant from you and your life, but the Spring Statement could affect both your job and your money. Here's what it could mean for you. If you are on benefits, you could be directly affected.
When will interest rates go down again and how do they affect mortgages? - BBC News

4 weeks ago | bbc.co.uk | Kevin Peachey

Interest rates, set by the Bank of England, affect mortgage, loan and savings rates for millions.
Yoga mats and VR headsets added to inflation basket

1 month ago | bbc.com | Kevin Peachey

Yoga mats and VR headsets added to inflation basketKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentGetty ImagesYoga mats are in, while modern technology also gets a new representationSome may use yoga mats and virtual reality headsets to mentally escape the daily grind but now statisticians are using them to chart the rising cost of living. Both items have made their way into the basket of goods and services used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to calculate inflation.