DEMSA Key themes summary

What you need to know this week Public sentiment ahead of the Autumn Budget remains negative, with 79% believing the UK economy is in a bad state and 77% rating government performance poorly.UK inflation fell to 3.6% in October 2025, with food prices rising again.Companies House reforms introduce significant new compliance requirements from 18 November 2025.MaPS warns that nearly one in three adults would be uncomfortable telling friends they have been scammed.Ofgem announces a 0.2% rise in the energy price… Read more

What you need to know this week UK economic growth remains weak, with 0.1% GDP growth in Q3 2025 and unemployment rising to 5%, raising expectations of a December interest rate cut.Energy debt repayment plans are lengthening significantly, with electricity arrears taking 97 weeks longer to clear compared with 2024.Product Sales Data (PSD) submissions under PS24/3 began on 11 November 2025, affecting creditors and debt buyers; CCR009 returns from the debt sector will follow in early 2026.Motor insurance premiums have… Read more

What you need to know this week Bank Rate maintained at 4% after MPC vote (meeting ending 5 Nov 2025).HM Treasury published the Financial Inclusion Strategy on 5 Nov 2025 with funding and referral-route commitments.Ofgem published Debt Relief Scheme (DRS) proposals (6 Nov 2025) and data showing £4.43bn domestic energy debt to June 2025.Ofgem and suppliers encourage consumers to reclaim c.£240m in closed-account credit; 1.9m closed accounts still hold credit.Money Advice Trust published the 2nd edition of the Help! Support… Read more

What you need to know this week UK Chancellor to deliver second Budget on 26 November 2025.Experian to include rental payments in credit scoring; max score increased to 1,250.£629.3m stolen by fraudsters in H1 2025; fraud cases up 17% year-on-year.Bank of England credit union data shows rising arrears and record loans; membership up to 2.18m.Government to scrap PARV fee from November 2025 to protect vulnerable debtors.FCA complaints rose to 1.85m in H1 2025; current account complaints up 10.2%.FOS received 158,900… Read more

What you need to know this week The government is considering targeted action in the next Budget to tackle cost-of-living challenges, potentially including cuts to the 5% VAT rate on energy.UK manufacturing output grew by 0.7% in August 2025, contributing to slight national economic growth.Debit card transactions in July 2025 fell year-on-year by 0.7%, while credit card transactions rose 2.4%.The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recorded 204 nationally significant cyber-attacks in the past year, more than double the previous 12… Read more

What you need to know this week ICO fines two energy firms £550,000 for unlawful robo marketing calls.64% of social media “debt advice” found misleading; 98% unreliable according to Lowell and Money Wellness study.FCA consults on £8.2bn motor finance compensation scheme affecting 14m consumers.FCA approves MaPS Standards to take effect 1 April 2026, supporting consistent debt advice quality.ICO consults on new “Recognised Legitimate Interest” guidance under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.DRCF launches new Thematic Innovation Hub focusing on… Read more