Public consultation on the UK’s proposed 10-year route to permanent residency closes this week; household bills—from water charges to council tax—are set to rise from April 2026; Bank of England holds interest rates at 3.75%

The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, with further tax hikes and spending cuts likely; council tax is expected to increase by 5% annually; the UK unemployment rate has risen to its highest level in four years.