UK inflation starts to show signs of slowing, but some key dates in 2026 could still have a significant impact on your finances. A recent budget announcement has pledged to tackle rising energy prices, but household costs are still set to rise.
One area where relief is in sight is for mortgage customers. From January, those on variable-rate deals will start benefiting from the Bank of England's rate cut announced in December. This could lead to cheaper loan payments and a welcome respite from rising mortgage costs.
However, there are still some key dates to keep an eye on throughout 2026. In February, alcohol duty is set to rise by 3.66%, which will increase the price of beer, wine, and whisky. The Bank of England's interest rate decision for that month could also have a significant impact on your finances, with forecasts suggesting two potential cuts in 2026.
As we head into spring, there are several household bills due to rise. These include council tax, water bills, and vehicle excise duty rates, all of which will increase by RPI rates. However, one of the biggest relief packages for households is set to come through in April, with pay increases across the board.
The national living wage, national minimum wage, and state pension are all set to rise by 4.1%, 8.5%, and 6% respectively. This could lead to a significant increase in take-home pay for many workers, but it's worth noting that these rises will push some people into higher tax brackets.
One of the most significant relief packages for households, however, is set to come through in April. The energy price cap is expected to fall by £138 per year, which could bring some much-needed respite from rising energy costs. However, it's worth noting that this change will depend on a range of factors, including wholesale prices.
As we head into the second half of 2026, there are several key dates to keep an eye on. The Bank of England's third interest rate decision of the year is set to come out in August, which could have significant implications for your finances. Additionally, income tax thresholds will be frozen, meaning that some people may find themselves pushed into a higher tax bracket due to pay rises.
Overall, while there are still many challenges ahead for households in 2026, there are also several relief packages and changes coming through that could make a positive impact on your finances. It's always a good idea to keep an eye on key dates and be prepared for any changes that may come through.
One area where relief is in sight is for mortgage customers. From January, those on variable-rate deals will start benefiting from the Bank of England's rate cut announced in December. This could lead to cheaper loan payments and a welcome respite from rising mortgage costs.
However, there are still some key dates to keep an eye on throughout 2026. In February, alcohol duty is set to rise by 3.66%, which will increase the price of beer, wine, and whisky. The Bank of England's interest rate decision for that month could also have a significant impact on your finances, with forecasts suggesting two potential cuts in 2026.
As we head into spring, there are several household bills due to rise. These include council tax, water bills, and vehicle excise duty rates, all of which will increase by RPI rates. However, one of the biggest relief packages for households is set to come through in April, with pay increases across the board.
The national living wage, national minimum wage, and state pension are all set to rise by 4.1%, 8.5%, and 6% respectively. This could lead to a significant increase in take-home pay for many workers, but it's worth noting that these rises will push some people into higher tax brackets.
One of the most significant relief packages for households, however, is set to come through in April. The energy price cap is expected to fall by £138 per year, which could bring some much-needed respite from rising energy costs. However, it's worth noting that this change will depend on a range of factors, including wholesale prices.
As we head into the second half of 2026, there are several key dates to keep an eye on. The Bank of England's third interest rate decision of the year is set to come out in August, which could have significant implications for your finances. Additionally, income tax thresholds will be frozen, meaning that some people may find themselves pushed into a higher tax bracket due to pay rises.
Overall, while there are still many challenges ahead for households in 2026, there are also several relief packages and changes coming through that could make a positive impact on your finances. It's always a good idea to keep an eye on key dates and be prepared for any changes that may come through.
On the bright side, that energy price cap drop in April sounds like a massive relief, especially for households struggling to afford their bills. Fingers crossed it happens! 
with the rate cut from December. and hey, at least we can look forward to that energy price cap dropping by £138 per year 
that's like, a whole lot of savings right there! 
like what if i get pushed into a higher tax bracket due to pay rises? and those rising household bills are not helping... council tax, water bills, vehicle excise duty rates are all on the rise 
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so we'll just have to keep an eye on those key dates and hope for the best! fingers crossed 
, but there's still some big price hikes coming up in 2026... council tax, water bills, vehicle excise duty rates all go up 
. and then there's the alcohol duty increase in feb 
... it'll be interesting to see how people handle those rises. on the other hand, the energy price cap is supposed to fall by £138 per year in april that's a pretty big help for households 
. but, some ppl might end up in higher tax brackets with pay rises... does anyone know how ppl are coping with rising costs atm? 
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! Those pay rises in April are going to make a huge difference, especially with the national living wage increasing by 4.1% 
. But, I'm keeping an eye on those higher tax brackets too 
. One thing's for sure: we'll have to stay on top of things and be prepared for any changes that come through 
but at the same time, i'm a little worried about the future... what if those interest rate cuts don't happen? or what if those household bills keep going up? 