UK unemployment at 4.9%? The headline suggests stability — the reality is more fragile.
The latest UK unemployment figure looks steady at first glance. But that headline is doing far more work than it appears.
The volume of remortgage applications in Q1 surged by 45.8%, new analysis from Stonebridge has shown, prompting overall mortgage activity to jump by a quarter (24.6%).
Second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 27% in February 2026
Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Geraldine Kilkelly, Director of Research and Chief Economist at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said:
Consumer finance new business grew by 5% in February 2026
New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew by 5% in February 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. In the first two months of 2026, new business in this market was 4% higher than in the same period in 2025.
New accessibility guidelines launched for payment cards
UK Finance has launched a new Accessible Cards Code of Practice, designed to help customers with accessibility needs or impaired vision use payment cards in-store and online. The Code means the UK is the first country in the world to have national common accessibility guidelines for flat printed payment cards.
Mortgage borrowing increased to £4.8bn in February
Latest Bank of England data has shown that net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased to £4.8 billion in February, from £4.2 billion in January.
