What rising inflation means for savings and mortgages
Inflation has unexpectedly surged to its highest level since January last year. This could could delay further cuts to the base rate by the Bank of England, which would be a boost for savers, but not such good news for mortgage borrowers.
The consumer prices index (CPI) rose to 3.5 per cent in April, up from 2.6 per cent in March. Core CPI, which strips out volatile components such as energy and food, climbed to 3.8 per cent from 3.4 per cent, while services inflation rose to 5.4 per cent from 4.7 per cent.
This unexpected acceleration in inflation was caused by bill increases in April. These include council tax rates, water bills and a rise in the energy price cap that determines how much
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The Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Sun
Lidl's £30 Middle Aisle garden gadget bargain is £20 cheaper than a B&Q one
LIDL is bringing back a sell-out garden gadget in days and it's cheaper than B&Qs alternative. The budget-friendly supermarket will soon be restocking the Grillmeister Barbecue Pizza Oven, a hot weather favourite amongst shoppers. Available for the bargain price of £29.99, it'll hit your local store's Middle Aisle from Sunday, July 6. The oven can be used on charcoal or gas barbecues and the Lidl claims its perfect for creating pizzas with a delicious crispy base. The design features a removable pizza stone and integrated thermostat. For comparison, B&Q stocks a George Foreman alternative priced at £49.99, making Lidl's gadget a fantastic £20 cheaper. Lidl's dupe will be available for a limited time only. This garden gadget is part of Lidl's exclusive Middle of Lidl outdoor event, which will also feature a wide range of items, including garden lights, outdoor tables, and even gazebos. If something catches your eye be sure to get to your local store quickly on July as shops will only receive limited stock and when it's gone, it's gone. You can find your closest Lidl supermarket by visiting When shopping Lidl's special deals, it's always a good idea to compare prices with other retailers to ensure you're getting the best value. You can use online tools like or Google Shopping to help with this. I tested all the high street pizza ovens - this one at over half the price of Lakeland's is the best Prices can vary depending on the model, size, and retailer, so comparing options is essential before making a decision. For example, Ooni is a leading brand for pizza ovens, but their models range from £299.99 to £799.99, making them a significant investment. Lastly, remember that a deal is only worthwhile if you genuinely need the product. Buying something just because it's on offer doesn't necessarily mean you're saving money. How to compare prices to get the best deal JUST because something is on offer, or is part of a sale, it doesn't mean it's always a good deal. There are plenty of comparison websites out there that'll check prices for you - so don't be left paying more than you have to. Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers. Here are some that we recommend: Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results. Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets. Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock. Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one. CamelCamelCamel only works on goods being sold on Amazon. To use it, type in the URL of the product you want to check the price of. How can I save money when shopping at Lidl? Lidl reduces items at the start of the day, and the best deals can be found between 7am and 8am, when most stores open. Shoppers can often find cooked meats, salmon fillets and breads reduced by 30% or more. Not only does Lidl have its own range of reasonably priced alcohol, it also has its own knock-offs of branded favourites – so say cheers to its bargain booze. Everyone knows about the "Middle of Lidl" – it's here where you'll find a load of random stuff you didn't realise you needed, at decent prices. But if you are hoping to avoid spending more than you planned, you can check what will be in the "Middle of Lidl" on the supermarket's website in advance. The Middle of Lidl is refreshed every Thursday and Sunday. How to bag a bargain SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain… Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with. Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks. Sales are when you can pick up a real steal. Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on. Sign up to mailing lists and you'll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer. Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping. Bargain hunters can also use B&M's scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out. And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you'll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
BBC News
44 minutes ago
- BBC News
Malawi inflation: 'I tell my children not to play so we save money on soap'
Suzanna Kathumba, a domestic worker in Malawi, spends every day thinking of ways she can economise to make her salary of 80,000 kwacha ($46; £34) a month stretch to support her she wrings a wet cloth from a bucket of water in the living room and starts by wiping down the tables and chairs, she considers her latest ploy to save money."I've told my youngest children not to get too dirty when playing so we can save on soap," the 43-year-old told the BBC. "But it's hard because children are children, they want to play."For the past few months Ms Kathumba, a divorced mother of four working in the capital, Lilongwe, has been struggling to survive on her salary because of the surging prices of goods in the little financial support from her ex-husband, she is the sole earner for the household. Most of her money goes back to her four children, who live in their home town of Kasungu, around 130km (80 miles) north-west of capital. The two youngest children are still in school and two older ones are May, the annual inflation rate in Malawi was 27.7% - one of the highest in Africa - a decline from 29.2% in April."What is surprising is that salaries are staying the same, but the price of commodities keeps going up on a daily basis," Ms Kathumba said."The money finishes before it even comes. We're living a very hard life." A recent Ernst & Young report said that Malawi was one of the few countries in the world it considered to have what it called a "hyperinflationary economy" - along with Burundi, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. This is when there is cumulative inflation over three years of around 100% or accounting firm said that according to the World Economic Outlook database, compiled by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Malawi had a three-year cumulative rate of inflation of 116% as of December 2024 and it forecast three-year cumulative rates of inflation of 102% for 2025 and 66% for from the World Bank also shows that the country is one of the poorest in the world. It estimates that 70% of the southern African nation's population lives on less than $2.15 a current cost-of-living crisis has left many citizens, like Ms Kathumba, without any savings."I would be lying if I say that I save some money at the end of the month. I have absolutely nothing left," she said."I pay 50,000 kwacha [$29] in school fees each term. Then you need to buy exercise books, food, soap - all from the same small salary. Sugar [1kg] is now 4,500 kwacha [$3]." Economists put Malawi's current inflation problems partly down to the shortage of foreign money - known as "forex" - in the has often struggled with forex as the country imports much more than it exports."We are not exporting high-value products," Dr Bertha Bangara Chikadza, senior lecturer in macroeconomics at the University of Malawi and the president of the Economics Association of Malawi, told the BBC."We export products like maize, soya beans and sugar, but import expensive products such as fertilisers, medicine and furniture, so we need a huge amount of forex for this," she wanting to import goods say that when they apply to the banks for forex - in particular US dollars - they are often turned down because there is none forces some to look for US dollars on the black market, where the exchange rate is higher than the official rate of 1,750 kwacha for $ can pay between 4,000 and 5,000 kwacha for $1 - which has a knock-on effect for owners, like Mohammed Hanif Waka, who owns a stationery shop in the capital, says he has lost many customers since putting up prices."Sales have drastically dropped. We have had to make redundancies," he told the he would usually import items for his shop, like office supplies, pens and notepads, the lack of foreign exchange means he is now trying to access goods locally."I can't remember when our banks gave us forex," he for change, informal traders took to the streets to protest in February, hundreds blocking the entrance to Malawi's parliament."We are really affected, we are supposed to get a profit from our businesses," Steve Magombo, the chairman of Lilongwe's Tsoka Flea Market, told the BBC."But the way things are, we are failing. Malawians are failing to buy our commodities."Earlier this year it was announced that a loan agreement of $175m with the IMF had been suspended temporarily. 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But he also blames traders for inflating prices."We are setting up an economic sabotage bill and there is also going to be an essential goods and services bill to regulate this," he told the the main opposition has laid the blame for inflation at the feet of those in the cause of inflating prices, the cost-of-living is likely to be a huge campaign hope their daily struggles will be eased by the government's plans - and everyone wants a solution that brings lasting stability to the economy."We depend on the government for assistance," said Ms Kathumba."I hope the politicians remember the less privileged Malawians when making their decisions."Additional reporting by Jack McBrams in Lilongwe. You may also be interested in: 'My bananas were seized and destroyed' - Malawi-Tanzania trade row escalatesHIV clinics shut in Malawi after USAID freeze Malawi seeks billions of dollars from US firm over ruby salesBanana wine brings sweet taste of success to Malawi farmers Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Major US chain with 45 branches FINALLY adds iconic menu item to UK restaurants
A MAJOR US chain with 45 branches has finally added an iconic menu item to UK restaurants. Wendy's is bringing its Biggie Bag to the UK, giving customers a chance to try what Americans have dubbed the "best deal in fast food". 1 The meal deal gives customers a chance to get a small cheeseburger, chicken nuggets, small fries and drink for £5. Diners can upgrade for an extra £2.99 to get their hands on one of the chain's "premium" burgers such as a Wendy's Spicy Chicken or Wendy's Single. The more pricey version also comes with chicken nuggets, a small drink and chips. Wendy's £5 bargain allows customers to save around £1.77 The price of a small drink is around £1.49 at the chain, while the cost of a small burger is £2.49 and a four piece nugget is £2.79 and fries costs £1.59. If you bought all the items separately it would cost £8.36, but be aware prices may vary from store to store. Meanwhile, customers who upgrade to the £7.99 Biggie Bag can save £3.17. The offer has been a long standing feature in Wendy's restaurants in the US, with customers saying they "love it". One loyal fan said: "I upgrade to a large so my toddler can share and have the nuggets and some burger. So much better than McDonald's." While another customer said: "The Biggie bag is absolutely delicious I get it every time I go to Wendy's." If you are keen to try it out for yourself you will need to be quick as the offer will only be available on UK menus until August 1. You can find your nearest Wendy's by visiting, And that is not all the fast-food chain has also launched two new nugget flavours . It's new spicy nuggets are drenched in either Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce or Cattleman's Honey BBQ Sauce. The menu item will available to try from July 1. MORE FAST FOOD NEWS And Wendy's is not the only fast-food chain to shake things up recently. Slim Chickens has opened four new sites across the UK this month including sites in Swansea, Ealing, Walton and Birmingham. Another four Slim Chickens restaurants are set to open soon in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Reading, along with an undisclosed location in West London. The final two sites, also undisclosed, will complete the chain's 16 new openings in 2025. Elsewhere, Carls Jnr will be opening new sites in Southampton, Bristol, Manchester, York and Leeds. The Swansea restaurant is set to open in late August, while the chain is likely to land in Southampton and Manchester around October. No dates have been confirmed yet for the remaining restaurants. How to save money eating out THERE are a number of ways that you can save money when eating out. Here's how: Discount codes - Check sites like Sun Vouchers or VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order. Tastecard - This is a members club where you pay to have access to discounts worth up to 50 per cent off at thousands of restaurants. It costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 for the year. Loyalty schemes - Some restaurants will reward you with discounts or a free meal if you register with their loyalty scheme, such as Nando's where you can collect a stamp with every visit. Some chains like Pizza Express will send you discounts for special occasions, such as your birthday, if you sign up to their newsletter. Voucher schemes - Look out for voucher schemes offered by third party firms, such as Meerkat Meals. If you compare and buy a product through then you'll be rewarded with access to the discount scheme. You'll get 2 for 1 meals at certain restaurants through Sunday to Thursday. Student discounts - If you're in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It's always worth asking before you place your order.
