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Living costs Stories

UK Stories

Living costs stories

emerchantpay adds Visa Instalments for UK merchants
Buy Now Pay Later

emerchantpay adds Visa Instalments for UK merchants

UK merchants could see fewer abandoned baskets as emerchantpay adds card-linked instalments at checkout for eligible Visa shoppers.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
Most UK shoppers oppose dynamic pricing for groceries
Customer Experience

Most UK shoppers oppose dynamic pricing for groceries

Britons are far more likely to reject changing grocery prices than embrace them, with fairness and clear pricing still driving loyalty.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Wed, 29th Apr 2026
Two thirds of UK adults worry about finances ahead
Grants

Two thirds of UK adults worry about finances ahead

Household budgets remain under strain as many cut essentials, dip into savings and miss payments, with £23 billion in support unclaimed yearly.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 16th Apr 2026
Bucharest tops Europe startup rankings as London slips
Hybrid & Remote Work

Bucharest tops Europe startup rankings as London slips

Lower costs and lighter tax burdens have pushed Bucharest to the top of Europe’s startup rankings, while London fell to 69th globally.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Fri, 10th Apr 2026
UK households face GBP £6.85 billion bill rise in April
Unified Communications

UK households face GBP £6.85 billion bill rise in April

Some households could offset April’s bill hikes by switching broadband or mobile, but council tax and water will still add to the squeeze.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Thu, 26th Mar 2026
UK household bills to rise GBP £6.85 billion a year
Unified Communications

UK household bills to rise GBP £6.85 billion a year

Millions of households can trim some of the blow as out-of-contract broadband and mobile users face the sharpest rises from April.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 26th Mar 2026
UK retail rebounds as online sales post sharp surge
Marketing Technologies

UK retail rebounds as online sales post sharp surge

UK retail sales jumped in January as online spending saw its fastest annual rise since 2021, signalling a more resilient consumer mood.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Thu, 26th Feb 2026
Telecoms charter under fire as April bill rises loom
Unified Communications

Telecoms charter under fire as April bill rises loom

UK telecoms charter faces scrutiny as April bill hikes loom, with Ofcom complaints and consumer groups questioning value and service.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026

Global Stories

Living costs stories

More UK adults eye moving abroad as language skills pay
Human Capital Management

More UK adults eye moving abroad as language skills pay

More UK adults are ready to move abroad, as new research links language skills to higher pay, confidence and global career mobility.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Tue, 10th Mar 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Living costs stories

NZ households prioritise utilities over telco debts
Bank of New Zealand

NZ households prioritise utilities over telco debts

Cost-of-living pressure is pushing New Zealand households to protect power and water bills first, while telco debts are among the first to slip.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • 5 days ago
Australia's big banks boost provisions as profits grow
PwC

Australia's big banks boost provisions as profits grow

Rising margins pressure and a Middle East supply shock are testing lenders, even as provisions and capital buffers are lifted.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
Australian SMEs absorb rising fuel costs, MYOB says
Data Analytics

Australian SMEs absorb rising fuel costs, MYOB says

Fuel now tops cost pressures for Australian SMEs, but most are still swallowing the rise rather than passing it on to customers.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
Young Canadians drive faster cashback use on Chexy
Fintech

Young Canadians drive faster cashback use on Chexy

Cashback spending on Chexy is rising fastest among Canadians under 40, highlighting a shift towards immediate rewards on bills, rent and taxes.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last month
Singapore sandwich class turns to crypto for stability
Crypto

Singapore sandwich class turns to crypto for stability

Middle-income households in Singapore are increasingly using cryptocurrency to diversify portfolios and buffer rising costs, a new survey shows.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Wed, 15th Apr 2026
Samsung launches AI heat pump to cut New Zealand bills
Internet of Things

Samsung launches AI heat pump to cut New Zealand bills

Households may trim winter power costs as the system automatically adjusts heating and cooling using room conditions and daily routines.

By Sean Mitchell • 2 min read • Thu, 9th Apr 2026
Cost-of-living pressures reshaping customer spending
Fintech

Cost-of-living pressures reshaping customer spending

Digital ordering and payment options are influencing behaviour, with more people using QR codes to avoid awkward money conversations with friends.

By Shannon Williams • 5 min read • Thu, 12th Feb 2026
Hybrid lending model key to Canada's financial future
Digital Transformation

Hybrid lending model key to Canada's financial future

Canada's lending future is going hybrid as Money Mart doubles down on both mobile apps and 420-plus branches to widen access.

By Peter Kalen • 4 min read • Sat, 31st Jan 2026