Inflation

The UK's main inflation rate has remained at 2.7% for the third month in a row, broadly in line with economists' expectations, despite steep rises in energy bills.

Annuity experts have welcomed the Office of National Statistics' (ONS) surprise decision to keep the current measure of inflation.

SOAPBOX

The Chancellor is on a collision course with bond markets over plans to change how inflation is calculated. The switch could bring the exchequer a £3.8bn windfall from a reduction in interest payments.

The UK's over-55s are working longer as they fall back on their savings to meet living costs, according to research.

The risk a triple-dip recession could hit people's finances is a big worry to about a quarter of consumers, research from the Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) has revealed.

INFLATION

The UK's main inflation rate has jumped sharply to 2.7% in October, having fallen to a 34-month low of 2.2% in September.

FIVE THINGS

Consumers will go on spending more money on non-essentials if inflation continues to drop, a senior economist has said.