KT Weekly #6: the week in numbers

4.00%

Lloyds now lets savers take a full year's interest in the first month on its one-year Online Fixed Bond, which pays 4.00% AER fixed. The deposit stays locked for 12 months. Lloyds fixed bond now pays a year's interest upfront

From 9 October 2026, recognised modern slavery victims on Skilled Worker visas can leave an abusive sponsor and work for any employer for the rest of their visa, the Home Office says. Skilled Worker visa: slavery victims can now leave sponsor

35%

Some claims firms charge over £1,000 to complete an Attendance Allowance form that is free to submit, DWP says. Others take 35% to 48% of backdated State Pension. A new campaign tells pensioners not to pay. Don't pay to claim Attendance Allowance, DWP tells pensioners

6%

The average five-year fixed mortgage rate hit 6.00 per cent on 5 October 2026, a three-year high, while the number of fixed deals priced below 5 per cent fell from 1,494 at the start of September to just nine, according to Moneyfacts. Five-year fixed mortgage rate hits 6%

30,000 pounds

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax extends to sole traders and landlords with turnover above 30,000 pounds from 6 April 2027, bringing around 1,077,000 more people into the system. Turnover means gross income from self-employment and property combined before ex Making Tax Digital: the £30,000 rule starts April 2027

99%

Petrol and diesel prices now appear on Google Maps in the UK for the first time, using data from the government's Fuel Finder scheme. The scheme covers around 99% of fuel sold on UK roads, and since February 2026 forecourts must report price changes withi Petrol prices now on Google Maps: how Fuel Finder works

£2.9bn

Suppliers held 2.9 billion pounds of customer credit at the end of June 2026, an average of 182 pounds per household on fixed Direct Debit. Ofgem says the rise is seasonal. Energy suppliers hold £2.9bn of customer credit

150

GTA 6 launches on 19 November 2026 and could be a 150 GB to 200 GB download. That is about 20 minutes on 1 Gbps full fibre and up to 45 hours on a 10 Mbps line. The size is not yet confirmed. GTA 6 download time: 20 minutes to 45 hours by broadband

Greencore is recalling five products sold at M&S and Tesco after Salmonella was found in pistachio nuts, the Food Standards Agency says. Use-by dates run up to 13th October. The FSA says do not eat them and return them for a full refund. M&S and Tesco foods recalled: salmonella in pistachios

150g

Lambertz recalls Mini Spekulatius 150g and Christmas Tree Cookies 160g because allergens are not declared in English on the label. Return packs for a full refund. Lambertz Christmas biscuits recalled over allergen labelling

HM Treasury has named six Joint Lead Managers for DIGIT, the UK's first digitally native government bond, with pilot issuance expected by the first quarter of 2027. The wholesale pilot is not a retail product and no retail purchase route has been announce Digital gilt: six banks appointed for DIGIT pilot

BT has completed its acquisition of TalkTalk and the government has intervened, with the CMA ordered to report to the Secretary of State by 5pm on 19 October 2026. BT buys TalkTalk: what it means for customers

500

Around 500 qualified careers advisers have joined the Department for Work and Pensions as the National Careers Service is merged into DWP. Free careers advice moves into Jobcentres

75%

Four AI assistants named 4,821 businesses when asked 320 travel questions across 20 cities. 75% were recommended by only one of them, the Vasukai AI Travel Index found. AI travel advice: 75% of firms named by only one assistant

The Office of Rail and Road is consulting on rules to keep online rail ticket sales fair when Great British Railways replaces 14 train operator websites and apps. Views are due by 11 December 2026. ORR consults on fair rules for rail ticket sales under GBR

1,000

Kael Tripton Ltd was accepted into Anthropic's Claude Startups programme on 8 October 2026, with 1,000 dollars of Claude API credits, a year of Claude Team, Applied AI office hours and access to the Claude Startup Stack partner offers. Kael Tripton Ltd accepted into Anthropic's Claude Startups programme

300,000

HMRC will pre-fill Child Benefit details on around 300,000 Self Assessment returns this year. Paper returns for 2025 to 2026 are due by 31 October 2026; online returns and payment by 31 January 2027. Self Assessment: Child Benefit pre-filled on 300,000 returns

478,531

The Bank of England has chosen the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog for its next banknotes after a record 478,531 consultation responses. New banknotes: puffin, barn owl, bumblebee and hedgehog

£298,441

The Lloyds House Price Index for September 2026 puts the average UK house price at £298,441. Prices were unchanged on the month and on the year, both 0.0%, and down 0.2% over the quarter. UK house prices unchanged in September at £298,441: Lloyds

25%

From 6 October 2026, UK airport eGates begin a phased switch to contactless technology. Passengers have their photo taken and the gate opens automatically, with no need to place the passport on the reader. Testing shows the system is up to 25% faster. Contactless eGates start at UK airports: how they work

A mortgage covering the full purchase price still leaves five costs to pay in cash, starting with Stamp Duty Land Tax, due within 14 days of completion in England. Refinancing releases borrowed money, not profit, and a project can show a surplus on paper yet s The cash gap: why funded property deals still need money

80 %

Enginuity says nearly 80 per cent of UK engineering and manufacturing SMEs it surveyed are under pressure to raise prices, and almost three quarters now plan to pass costs to customers. Most engineering SMEs plan to raise prices, survey finds