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Poor coffee harvests in Brazil and Vietnam are just some of the factors driving up the price of your morning cup of coffee.

Experts say action now can save money when the pinch comes this winter.

One farmer says his red diesel costs have risen from £27,000 a year to £54,000.

Household energy prices will rise by 13% a year in July, as soaring wholesale costs caused by the US-Israel war with Iran hit bills for the first time.

Household energy prices will rise by 13% a year in July, as soaring wholesale costs caused by the US-Israel war with Iran hit bills for the first time.

Firms that approve financial promotions should be doing more to protect consumers, an FCA review has found. The FCA found that the strongest firms were applying the Consumer Duty from the start of their processes. They were able to make sure that every promotion approved was accurate, clear and reached the right audience.However, the FCA also found that some firms approved adverts with unsubstantiated claims or allowed retail investors to see promotions intended for professional clients. In some cases, firms relied on third-party templates instead of doing proper checks themselves.The review focussed on sampling promotions that had been approved since the firm was authorised.Lucy Castledine, director of consumer investments at the FCA, said:'Consumers see these promotions daily - in social media feeds, online adverts, websites and apps. When approvers fail in their responsibilities, people can be misled into harmful financial decisions. 'Firms must make sure every promotion they sign off is fair, clear and not misleading.' As a result of the FCA's work, one firm has already had to conduct a remediation exercise and some websites have been blocked to retail customers.The FCA will continue to monitor compliance and will hold firms that fall short to account.Notes to editorsThe review assessed 10 authorised firms that approve financial promotions for businesses which are not authorised by the FCA.Section 21 approvers are FCA-authorised firms that have the permission to approve financial promotions for businesses that aren't authorised. They must check that these promotions follow FCA rules, so the products can be legally marketed to UK consumers.The FCA looked at firms who were approving financial promotions for Buy Now Pay Later, crowdfunding and corporate finance firms. The rules on authorised firms approving promotions for unauthorised firms came into force on 7 February 2024.

We’re inviting applications from senior practitioners at smaller regulated firms in the general insurance and consumer credit sectors to join the panel. The Smaller Business Practitioner Panel provides independent advice and challenge from the perspective of smaller firms, helping to shape our work at a time of significant change in UK financial services regulation.Its key remit is to provide input to the FCA from the industry to help us meet our strategic and operational objectives from a smaller business standpoint.The deadline for applications is 11.59pm on Sunday 28 June 2026.Find out more and how to apply (PDF).

We’re pleased to announce that our Annual Public Meeting (APM) will be held in Edinburgh for the first time on 6 October 2026, marking an important milestone for us a UK-wide regulator. The announcement coincides with a visit to Edinburgh on 26 May by our chair Ashley Alder, who was there to open a new office space, demonstrating our commitment to growing our presence in Scotland, and expanding our workforce of more than 350 colleagues.Edinburgh continues to strengthen its position in global financial centre rankings, underlining Scotland’s importance to the UK’s financial services sector and its international competitiveness.The decision to host the APM in Edinburgh reflects our ongoing investment in Scotland and our commitment to serving consumers and firms across the whole of the UK. The APM will take place at the Assembly Rooms and will be a hybrid event, with people able to join online as well as in person, helping to widen participation.Ashley Alder, chair of the FCA, said: 'Bringing our Annual Public Meeting to Edinburgh for the first time is a deliberate step to strengthen our visibility and accountability right across the UK.'Scotland is a critical part of the UK’s financial services sector, and as we continue to grow our presence here, we want to be closer to consumers and the firms we regulate. Holding the APM in Edinburgh, reflects our focus on being more outward-facing, more engaged, and better connected to the markets we serve.'Chris Cummings, chief executive of the Investment Association said: 'Edinburgh has a long heritage as a leading centre for financial services, including investment management, and it’s great to see that recognised as the city hosts the FCA’s Annual Public Meeting. This is the first time the meeting has been held outside London, underlining both Edinburgh’s importance to the financial services sector and the FCA's role as a UK-wide regulator.'Derek Mitchell, chief executive of Citizens Advice Scotland: 'We welcome the continued commitment and presence of the FCA in Scotland by holding their Annual Public Meeting in Edinburgh. This creates a stronger connection and gives greater voice to the consumers that Citizens Advice Scotland represents.'Sam Ghibaldan, chief executive of Consumer Scotland said: 'Consumer Scotland has a strong relationship with regulators, including the FCA. I am delighted the FCA has chosen to hold its Annual Public Meeting in Scotland for the first time. Consumers in Scotland face a variety of challenges such as access to cash, affordable credit and financial inclusion, and we look forward to continuing our work with the FCA on these issues.'

Fast‑growing and innovative financial services businesses can now apply for more support to help them grow. The FCA’s Scale-up Unit provides tailored support to firms, helping them navigate regulation so they can scale sustainably. The unit is now open to solo-regulated firms to apply.The unit offers a dedicated point of contact and practical support to help navigate regulatory processes, develop innovative products and understand the impact of policy changes.Jessica Rusu, FCA chief data, information and intelligence officer, said:'We want firms to be able to grow with confidence. This initiative will help them navigate regulation, scale sustainably and contribute to making the UK the best place to start and grow a financial services business.'The FCA and PRA are already supporting 6 dual-regulated firms through the Scale-up Unit as part of a pilot. This has provided the FCA insight into how it can best support growing firms and will continue this dialogue with solo-regulated firms.The FCA will use insights from participating firms to inform wider policy and process improvements, ensuring regulation keeps pace with innovation.Applications for FCA solo-regulated firms to join the Scale-up Unit are open from 20 May to 22 June 2026.Notes to editorsRead more about the eligibility criteria for solo-regulated firms and how to apply to the Scale-up Unit.Read more about the Scale-up Unit.The Scale-up Unit sits alongside the FCA’s existing programmes, including Innovation Pathways, Pre-Application Support Service (PASS) and Early and High Growth Oversight function, creating a clear pathway from start-up to scale-up.

Half (49%) of young drivers have bought insurance through social media or messaging apps, new research reveals. With 4 in 10 (39%) unconfident in spotting the signs of a fake policy, thousands could be paying for cover that doesn’t exist. The FCA is warning 17-to 25-year-old drivers about 'ghost broking' scams where criminals sell bogus insurance policies through social media and messaging platforms.Ghost brokers pose as legitimate insurance sellers but offer cheap rates. The policies they sell are either entirely fake, are invalid because they falsify details to bring the price down, or are cancelled shortly after purchase. Victims are left unknowingly uninsured and at risk of prosecution, fines and even having their car seized.Almost half of those polled (45%) said they generally trust products or services bought through social media. Young drivers may also be at greater risk due to cost of living pressures – with 1 in 7 (15%) saying they find it difficult to fit insurance into their monthly budget.To avoid being taken for a ride, the FCA is urging young drivers to:Be wary of offers that sound too good to be true.Avoid deals only available through social media and messaging platforms. Genuine sellers should have a legitimate website, phone number and address.Use the FCA Firm Checker to confirm the firm is authorised. Drivers should check the firm’s contact details match those listed on Firm Checker to make sure they are dealing with the genuine firm.Graeme Reynolds, director of insurance at the FCA said:'Tight budgets make cheap offers tempting – and scammers take advantage of that. Don’t get ghosted by a policy that doesn’t exist. Check the FCA Firm Checker before you buy, because driving uninsured could cost you far more than any premium.'The FCA is working with social media influencers to warn young drivers about the growing threat of ghost broking.Notes to editorsInformation for consumers on ghost broking.Survey conducted by Kantar from 24 April to 1 May 2026 among 1,000 UK drivers aged 17 to 25.The Insurance Fraud Bureau and Aviva both report an increase in ghost broking. The Insurance Fraud Bureau found a 52% increase in ghost broking activity from 2022 to 2024 and Aviva saw a 22% surge in cases since 2023.Driving without valid insurance is a criminal offence in the UK and can result in a fixed penalty, points on a licence, or disqualification.The campaign supports the Government’s Motor Insurance Taskforce goals to tackle uninsured driving, fraud and crime.Fighting financial crime is a priority for the FCA, as part of its 5-year strategy.