Scottish Friendly

New data from financial mutual Scottish Friendly has revealed that the number of new stocks and shares ISA policies opened by adults in Scotland fell 17% year-on-year in the three months to December 2022. Sales in the run-up to Christmas were significantly lower than the previous year and the value

Financial mutual Scottish Friendly has appointed Stephen Campbell as chief operating officer. Mr Campbell has over 25 years’ experience within the financial services industry, with extensive knowledge of delivering large-scale and complex solutions to improve performance across technology and

Junior ISA investments in Scotland have soared ahead of the UK average, new data reveals. Data from Scottish Friendly’s latest Investor Index shows that the number of junior stocks and shares ISA policies opened by Scottish households in the three months to September was 27% higher than t

Real savings’ returns have plummeted to their lowest level since February 1976 due to the effects of rising inflation, new figures reveal. The study by Scottish Friendly and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) reveals the real annual return on savings fell to -9.0% in July &n

Financial mutual Scottish Friendly has appointed Alan Rankine as its new chief financial officer (CFO). Mr Rankine is currently chief actuary at Scottish Friendly and will take up his new role from 1 January 2023. As well as becoming CFO, he will take up the position of an Executive Director of the

Mounting inflation and increased taxation will leave the average UK household without enough money to cover all of their monthly living costs from later this year, according to new research. A new study by Scottish Friendly and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) has revealed that

Real earnings in the UK have fallen by a record 3.0%, according to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In real terms (adjusted for inflation), growth in total and regular pay fell on the year in April to June 2022 at 2.5% for total pay and 3.0% for regular pay.

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has announced an interest rate hike of 0.5% today in the face of rising inflation. At its meeting ending on 3 August 2022, the MPC voted by a majority of 8-1 to increase Bank Rate by 0.5 percentage points, to 1.75%. One member preferre

New data from financial mutual Scottish Friendly has revealed that investment activity in Scotland fell to its lowest level in nearly three years during the second quarter of 2022. The Scottish Friendly Investor Index tracks sales of adult investment ISA policies and the total value of these new pol

UK inflation reached a new record high in June, as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), measured by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) hit 9.4%.

A study has revealed that millions of adults have no savings to fall back on as they have already been used up to pay for essential items rising in price. The study by Scottish Friendly and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) found that one in six (16%) adults have used all their s

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.5% in May 2022, according to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). However, "spiralling living costs", sharp rises in inflation and further interest rate rises on the horizon "present an uncertain forecast for people and poli

The rise in the National Insurance threshold to £12,570 announced by the UK Government won't help lower-income households, despite some headline savings on contributions, according to Kevin Brown, savings specialist at Scottish Friendly. Mr Brown highlighted that average income households are

Scotland's onshore GDP decreased by -0.5% in April, according to statistics announced by Scotland's Chief Statistician. Output remains above the pre-pandemic level of February 2020, by 0.6%.

Retail sales volumes fell by 0.5% in May 2022 following a rise of 0.4% in April, according to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). However, sales volumes were 2.6% above their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) February 2020 levels.