House price dip

House price dip

The 1-minute read to get the money news you need with expert adviser commentary.

Asking prices drop

House prices have retreated 0.5% from recent record highs, according to Rightmove. The property website reckons sellers are asking for less in a bid to sell quickly and beat the stamp duty deadline. The tax break - which means there’s no stamp duty on homes costing up to £500,000 - is due to finish at the end of March.

Savings gap widens

A third of people now have less than £1,500 in the bank, despite the average household saving 29% of their disposable income - up from 5% before March. The Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics (CEME) says many higher earners have been working from home and have funnelled more cash into savings, while low income workers are more likely to have been furloughed or made redundant.

Count the climate cost

Investors are pushing companies to include the costs of climate change in their financial statements. 36 carbon-heavy companies have received the report asking them to be honest with shareholders about the impacts of climate change. Doing so could wipe billions of dollars off the value of sectors like energy and aviation.

Package palaver

Complaints about parcel deliveries have tripled since March, according to Citizens Advice. The online shopping boom has fed a rise in grievances over late and lost packages, as well as missing refunds. It’s the seller’s responsibility to deliver the items to your door, and you’re entitled to a refund if that service fails.