Government

Average house prices were only marginally lower last month than at the start of the year as the market remained stable throughout 2011, mortgage lender Halifax said today.

The Government's plans to bring forward an increase in the state pension age to 67 have been met with dismay by elderly groups.

Lenders and estate agents say the Government could have helped first-time buyers by extending their stamp duty 'holiday' in yesterday's Autumn Budget Statement.

The housing market has remained "surprisingly resilient" this month, Nationwide said today, as the average price of a property increased by 0.4% month-on-month.

Regulated rail fares will rise by 6% in the new year, not the expected 8%.

The Chancellor has announced he is scrapping the 3p fuel duty rise scheduled for early next year in a bid to help hard-pressed motorists.

Chancellor George Osborne announced he will uprate some working age state benefits by the planned 5.2%, in line with September's Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation figure.

Automatic pensions enrolment for small businesses is to be delayed a year, Pensions Minister Steve Webb said today.

British Gas has today formally announced its new 'simpler tariff' regime.

The Government should consider introducing a "graduated" state pension to allow people to draw some cash before they retire, which could help encourage them to continue working for longer, a thinktank recommended today.