Mortgage rates are rising today, and many fixed‑rate deals are being withdrawn at speed across the UK. Lenders have pulled nearly 500 mortgage products in the past 48 hours, and average fixed rates have now surged above 5%, marking the sharpest disruption since the 2022 mini‑budget.
More than 70,000 instances of support were provided to families to clear historic school meal debt as a result of nearly £2.9 million investment, a new report shows. The School Meal Debt Fund, launched in May 2024, was distributed to the 30 councils that applied for assistance to clear debt accrued by families up to 31 March 2024.
In February 2026, 41% of businesses with 10 or more employees reported that their staffing costs (including wages, bonuses, national insurance (NI), and pension contributions) had increased over the last three months; this is up 6 percentage points compared with November 2025, and up 5 percentage points compared with February 2025. In February 2026, 55% of businesses with 10 or more employees reported that they expect staffing costs to increase over the next three months; this is up 20 percentage points compared with November 2025, but down 11 percentage points compared with February 2025.
Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, HM Treasury; Dharmesh Nayee, Director of Strategy, Planning and Budget, HM Treasury will attend a meeting. Questions at todays meeting of the Treasury committee will principally be on the budget but questions may be raised on the rise in the cost of home heating oil.
Construction on the Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme (CFIIS) begins, marking a major step forward in delivering a modern, reliable, and future‑ready ferry service for the Corran Narrows. Funded through the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal (IHCRD), the £58m transport/ferry investment marks a pivotal time for one of the busiest single-vessel routes in Scotland.
Across the United Kingdom, many households are experiencing rising energy costs, but the impact has been particularly severe for those who rely on heating oil. In rural areas such as Caithness in the far north of Scotland, heating oil remains one of the most common sources of home heating because many homes are not connected to the mains gas network.
Diesel is already rising faster than petrol, and sustained $110+ crude would likely push UK diesel toward the mid‑150s per litre. Gas bills are also at risk because UK wholesale gas has surged toward 100p/therm.
In recent months, rising global energy prices have begun to influence many parts of the economy, including aviation and international travel. Aircraft fuel, known as Jet A-1, is a refined kerosene-based fuel used by most commercial airliners.
Choosing what to study after age 16 can feel like one of the biggest decisions a young person makes. For parents, the landscape of qualifications can seem confusing—especially as England and Scotland use different systems, each with its own pathways, strengths, and terminology.
UK bond markets are selling off sharply today, with 10‑year gilt yields jumping to around 4.56%, the biggest rise in Europe. This surge is being driven by the Middle East war and soaring oil and gas prices and it is already pushing up inflation expectations and making Bank of England rate cuts far less likely.
The Rt Hon John Healey MP to UK parliament on 9 March 2026. With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a statement to update the House on the Middle East.
Higher oil and gas prices, rising gilt yields, and delayed interest‑rate cuts are creating a much tougher environment for people thinking about buying pubs, restaurants, or hotels in the UK especially in rural areas like Caithness. This doesn't mean deals stop happening.
High streets across the UK are under pressure, but in Caithness the story is more complex — and, in some ways, more hopeful. Wick and Thurso face the same structural challenges seen nationwide: rising costs, shifting shopping habits, and the long shadow of online retail.
Update 10 March The recent G7 meeting did not reach an agreement to release oil reserve stocks. The finance ministers discussed the option amid surging prices linked to the Iran conflict, but multiple reports confirm they stopped short of approving any coordinated release.
The keys to Tain's new £72 million school campus have been handed over to The Highland Council, paving the way for pupils and staff to begin their move into the modern, state-of-the art facility later this spring. The new community campus brings together Tain Royal Academy, Craighill and Knockbreck Primary Schools (to form the newly named, Tain Primary School), and St Duthus School onto a single site, providing education for children and young people aged 3 to 18.
New and expanded fraud strategy sets out how the government will dismantle overseas scam compounds and protect the public from the UK's most pervasive crime. Fraudsters will be stopped in their tracks by a new online crime squad, set up to disrupt the gangs behind Britain's most pervasive crime.
Food prices in the UK will rise further if oil and gas prices stay high because energy costs feed directly into farming, transport, fertiliser, and supermarket supply chains. Rising fuel and energy costs are already being flagged by analysts as a major inflation risk for groceries.
Electricity bills in the UK and especially in Caithness are likely to rise if oil stays above $110, because wholesale energy markets move together. Wholesale electricity prices track gas and oil closely, and current market data shows energy-sector indices falling as oil surges, signalling cost pressure on suppliers.
Rising oil and gas prices are pushing UK inflation risks back up, and this is likely to delay interest‑rate cuts with some forecasts even warning rates could rise above 4% again. Growth forecasts for 2026 have already been cut, with the UK expected to slow to around 1.1% as energy‑driven shocks weigh on households and businesses.
Aluminium's surge is already raising UK construction, car‑manufacturing, and packaging costs and other metals like copper and nickel are climbing too, while steel is rising more moderately. Aluminium is at multi‑year highs due to supply shocks and tariffs, and UK industries that rely heavily on imported metals are feeling the pressure.