Oil at $97 Deepens UK Squeeze as £2,400 Household Hit Looms and Bond Rout Threatens Budget

UK house prices rose 0.2% in August to £275,465, their first monthly increase since April, according to Nationwide — a small but meaningful sign that buyers haven't fled the market despite geopolitical chaos. The Bank of England is widely expected to hold rates at 3.75% at its September 17 meeting, offering mortgage holders a temporary reprieve. And there's a genuine silver lining in the energy crisis: rooftop solar panels can now save households £400–£600 a year...