The UK's expected housing market recovery has stalled, with upward inflation, political instability and stubbornly high borrowing costs creating the most uncertain conditions seen in years, according to a leading property expert At the start of 2026, economists and industry figures widely expected falling inflation and lower interest rates to trigger a steady rebound in the property market.

Almost three quarters (72%) of people in the North West would cut back or stop taking holidays in the UK because of the proposed holiday tax, a major UKHospitality poll has found.

The Ben Kinsella Trust has announced that Knife Crime Awareness Week 2026 will take place from 18 to 24 May alongside National Police Chiefs’ Council Sceptre Week, combining policing, prevention and community action in a coordinated effort to tackle knife crime.

Over recent years, people have become far more proactive and informed when it comes to their health, with growing numbers seeking earlier answers and a better understanding of their wellbeing before concerns have the chance to escalate further.

74% of carers in employment say being able to work supports their wellbeing, offering a break from caring, boosting confidence and social contact Despite this, nearly half (47%) of carers who are employees are considering cutting their working hours or giving up work altogether. Giving up work to care can also have a significant financial impact New research from Carers UK examines the ‘tipping point’ at which unpaid carers feel that they have no choice but to give up work to care

A volunteer-run community hall serving rural communities near Carlisle is set to benefit from a £500 grant from Stagecoach. Beaumont Parish Hall, located on Stagecoach’s Route 93 and serving a parish of around 500 residents across five villages, has received the funding to support its ongoing reconstruction project.

Consumer confidence continued to decline in April 2026, according to the latest data from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). Headline figures fell from 105.8 to 102.4 (-3.4) as nearly every metric deteriorated. Any score greater than 100 indicates positive sentiment, while a score of less than 100 indicates negative sentiment.

It might be the Leeds Tattoo Expo’s 11th year at Leeds First Direct Arena, but there are plenty of new attractions at this year’s cutting-edge event. Firmly established as a must-do for tattoo and alternative culture enthusiasts across the UK and beyond, around 220 of the industry’s best artists will showcase their skills.

Bestselling crime writers Clare Mackintosh, Vaseem Khan and C.L. Taylor have joined forces with the banking industry’s Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to create a trilogy of original short stories designed to protect the public from scams

An estimated 2 million UK children are being locked out of live music, with cost and location preventing access for two in five primary school pupils, according to new research from music charity Playground Proms.