UK

Ofgem sets April 2026 energy price cap at £1,641

Ofgem has set the energy price cap for April 2026 at £1,641, benefiting from a £150 reduction due to the removal of certain green levies from customer bills. Forecasts indicate that the cap will rise to £1,837 for a typical dual fuel household in July, an increase of 12% from April's cap, but £196 lower than earlier predictions of a £1,973 cap.

Bank of England MPC to Keep Interest Rates Steady

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to maintain a high threshold for changing interest rates despite rising inflation expectations, according to analyst Simon French. The MPC left interest rates unchanged at 3.75% during its last meeting on March 19, 2026, and anticipates that consumer price index (CPI) inflation will remain between 3% and 3.5% in the coming quarters, influenced by higher energy prices amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The next MPC meeting is scheduled for April 30, 2026.

UK Young Men Living with Parents Hits Record High

Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that 35% of young men aged 20-34 in the UK were living with their parents in 2025, the highest proportion since at least 2007, compared to 22% of young women in the same age group. This trend is attributed to rising housing costs and the overall increase in the cost of living, which has made independent living increasingly difficult for young adults. The Institute for Fiscal Studies notes that the share of 25- to 34-year-olds living with parents has risen significantly, reflecting broader economic pressures.

Calls for Sheikh Mansour's Ban from English Football

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, owner of Manchester City and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, faces calls for a ban from English football as the NGO FairSquare urges the UK government to investigate his alleged links to genocide in Sudan. The group claims that the UAE has supplied weapons to the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces, which are accused of committing atrocities, and argues that sanctions against Mansour would disqualify him from owning the club. FairSquare has informed both the Premier League and the new Independent Football Regulator of its complaint, which was lodged on April 7.