Everyone, Everyday: Talking About What Matters
Steve Hoyles 
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show an alarming fall in the UK birth rate. The latest complete set of data (for 2022) show the lowest fertility rate since 1939. Why Fertility Rate Matters According to the ONS, the total fertility rate (TFR) decreased to 1.49 children per woman in 2022. In … Read more
On Monday, the state pension rose to 8.5%, a very welcome income boost for pensioners who have struggled to keep up with rising prices. How Much is the State Pension Currently Worth? Prior to Monday 8th, the state pension was £203.85 a week for the full, new flat-rate state pension, or £156.20 a week for … Read more
Official government data shows the gender pay gap is now smaller than at any time since mandatory reporting began. Whilst on average men still earn more than women, there has been tangible progress made. Report Suggests Women Paid 91P for Every £1 Paid to a Man The median pay gap is now 9.1p, which means … Read more
The rapid and extreme rise in energy bills have forced many families to financial ruin. The number of people being taken to court has dramatically increased, according to Citizens Advice. Energy Bill Rises Pushing Families to Breaking Point According to government research, energy bills in the UK have risen by 59% compared to their winter … Read more
Brexit, the gift that keeps on giving, will see the introduction of new import charges on foods from the EU. The charges will see an increase to the price of many popular goods bought by UK shoppers. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Announced the Charges According to DEFRA, the charges will range … Read more
An investigation has found that children have access to sex-blocking hormones on the internet. These hormones are available without prescription and can be bought for as little as £11 per month. Cass Review Casts Doubt Over Medical Interventions Dr Hilary Cass was asked to review gender identity services offered by the NHS. Her conclusion was … Read more
Police forces in England and Wales reported over 430,000 shoplifting cases last year, up from 315,000 in the previous year. These figures are the highest in 20 years, prompting opposition parties to criticise policing budgets. Shocking Rise in Case Numbers Official police data in England and Wales shows that there were 430,104 cases of shoplifting … Read more
A major European study has shown that obese workers are more likely to take days off through ill health than those at a healthy weight. 63.8% of UK Adults Overweight The study’s concern is the economic impact. Nearly 64% of UK adults are overweight, making the workforce particularly vulnerable to sickness absence. The Greater the … Read more
The Office for National Statistics figures show that the UK economy is officially out of recession. Data shows the economy grew by 0.6% between January and March. Latest Figures Better Than Expected There was an air of caution about today’s figures. Some economists had warned that sticky inflation and a high Bank of England base … Read more
Following almost 20 rounds of talks, and lots of diplomatic pushing and pulling, there’s growing optimism that a UK/EU Gibraltar deal can be struck this summer. Much of the Deal is Done According to both parties, much of the deal is already done. The broad terms of what an agreement will look like has been … Read more