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 months.
- GamCare’s Money Guidance Service evaluation highlights the financial harm link between gambling and debt, showing 76% of helpline users face financial difficulties.
- Registry Trust data show over 5.2 million live judgments, with consumer judgments up 11% quarter-on-quarter.
- HMRC is rolling out Microsoft 365 Copilot across 32,000 staff in 2025, increasing to 50,000 in 2026.
- The FCA has issued follow-up communications on Fair Value Assessments (FVAs), highlighting the need for robust MI, vulnerability assessment, and product outcome monitoring.
- The next Debt Buyer, Debt Manager and BPO event will be held at The Lowry, Manchester, on 4 December 2025.
- Individual insolvencies in England and Wales reached 11,101 in September 2025, up 7% year-on-year.
- Collaboration between energy suppliers and debt advice providers is increasing, with Ofgem-backed research calling for coordinated referral pathways and data sharing.
- Vanquis launched a benefits checker powered by InBest AI, helping customers identify unclaimed benefits.
Read the full summary – here
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