ROAR Plus

What you need to know this week Roma Pearson, former Director of Consumer Finance at the FCA, joined Square 4 Partners as Senior Advisory Director. Net mortgage borrowing by individuals rose sharply to £13 billion in March 2025, per Bank of England data. Net borrowing of consumer credit fell to £0.9 billion, with credit card borrowing dropping to its lowest level since April 2024. Citizens Advice published Deeper in Debt, reporting a 50% rise in household arrears since 2019 and… Read more

What you need to know this week Annual energy bills forecasted to fall by £166 in July 2025. UK GDP growth could slow to 0.8% in 2025 and 2026 if tariffs are imposed. Inflation expected to return to 2% by mid-2026 after a short-term rise. Over £1 trillion card transactions made in the UK in 2024. Financial vulnerability now increasingly affects middle-class and affluent households. 9,205 individuals entered personal insolvency in March 2025 in England & Wales. DRO volumes remain… Read more

What you need to know this week Inflation fell slightly to 2.6% in March 2025. Household budgets remain strained due to increased utility, council tax, and other bills. Consumer confidence remained flat in Q1 2025. Consumer finance new business increased by 3% in February 2025. Credit cards and personal loans new business rose by 2% in February 2025. Retail and online credit new business fell by 2%. Employment market weakened with fewer job vacancies and payroll declines. FCA paused changes… Read more

What you need to know this week US tariffs increase coffee prices, impacting café and bakery owners. UK exporters face challenges due to a new 10% US tariff on goods. The FCA focuses on supporting innovative financial products and easing new firm regulations. Ofwat introduces mandatory PSR standards to aid vulnerable customers. UKRN's 2025-2026 delivery plan emphasises collaboration and effective regulation. Target Group enhances customer interaction with AI-driven functionalities. Individual insolvency rates vary significantly across regions in England & Wales.… Read more

What you need to know this week UK card transactions surpassed £1 trillion in 2024, with an increase in both the number of transactions and cards issued. The FCA outlined a 5-year strategic focus including smarter regulation, economic growth support, enhanced consumer navigation in financial decisions, and intensified efforts against financial crime. Consumer Duty rules have been fully implemented, prompting quick regulatory changes to reduce costs and support consumer outcomes. The Spring Statement 2025 highlighted a bleak outlook for UK… Read more

What You Need to Know This Week Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee maintained the Bank Rate at 4.5%. UK government borrowing was higher than anticipated in February, adding fiscal pressure before the Spring Statement. Significant rise in debit and credit card transactions in December 2024, indicating increased consumer spending. The government plans major welfare benefit changes to reduce expenditure, including ending reassessments for those with severe, long-term conditions. Colin Trend's profile highlights his 30-year experience in financial difficulty service… Read more