News this week that life expectancy in most of the UK has fallen for the last couple of years has raised a few eyebrows and also got me thinking about the impact of this on all sorts of major financial services challenges, the State Pension being one.

The effects of the pandemic cut life expectancy between 2021 and 2023 across the UK with no sign yet of recovery, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics.

Lower fuel and transport costs helped cut CPI inflation in the 12 months to September to 1.7% from 2.2% in August.

CPI inflation unexpectedly spiked upwards last month to 2.3% from a low of 1.7% the previous month, ONS reported today.

The rising cost of living remains the second-most important issue facing UK consumers, according to Britons asked by the Office for National Statistics for its latest Public Opinions and Social Trends survey.