Martin Lewis backs ‘social tariff’ that could cut energy bills by up to £1,500

Consumer champion and charities seek a policy that supports UK households hit hardest by high bills

Two-thirds of UK women say childcare duties affected career progression

BCC says tackling barriers to work such as soaring childcare cost vital for a strong economy as well as equality

Markets rocked as Jerome Powell warns Fed could switch back to bigger interest rate rises –as it happened

Federal Reserve chair says US central bank would be prepared to increase the pace of rate hikes if data justified it

National Grid puts backup coal plants into action for first time this winter

Two units at EDF’s West Burton A plant in Nottinghamshire began producing power on Tuesday

Woman, 91, loses account and pension after Barclays declares her dead

Bank apologises after error results in elderly woman having account closed and phone and energy cut off

UK house prices rise as mortgage rate cuts lift confidence

Average monthly increase of 1.1% to £285,476 in February, after falls in previous two months, says Halifax

State-owned electricity generation firm ‘could save Britons nearly £21bn a year’

Analysis by thinktank Common Wealth bolsters Labour’s case to launch national energy company

UK women priced out of work by lack of affordable childcare, PwC finds

Pressure builds for childcare help in budget as Britain slips down global league table for women in work

UK shoppers slash spending as price rises and energy bills bite

February figures from BRC highlight impact of cost of living crisis on British economy before budget

Labour proposes long-term tax breaks to increase UK investment and growth

News comes after top company bosses criticise government energy policy for failing to spur investment

Ministers warn TransPennine on service as mayors demand they ‘get a grip’

Northern mayors call for operator to be removed with 20,000 trains expected to be cancelled this year

‘Left out in the cold’: the boaters locked out of fuel support

People in canal boats moored at or visiting Hebden Bridge say the government does not understand their needs

I paid £70,000 to fraudsters – can Santander help?

Scammers posed as Citibank agents and convinced me to buy a high-return investment bond

Why don’t the British respect service staff or builders the way they do abroad?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts

Train fares in England and Wales rise by 5.9% despite poor service

Passengers will be hit by biggest increase in ticket prices since 2012