Smokers will be hit by higher prices as the Chancellor announced increases in tobacco duty in today's Budget. Meanwhile, the price of alcohol will rise next week.
Lenders and estate agents say the Government could have helped first-time buyers by extending their stamp duty 'holiday' in yesterday's Autumn Budget Statement.
Chancellor George Osborne announced he will uprate some working age state benefits by the planned 5.2%, in line with September's Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation figure.