Bank branches, unemployment, mortgages and savings

More than 1,000 UK bank branches have closed over the past two years, according to Which?. And HSBC has disclosed that it is shutting more than four branches a week, The Guardian reports. The bank says that a minimum of 57 more will be shut down in January. Of all the high street banks, HSBC has closed the most branches since January 2015. It shut 222 in 2016 alone, taking its current tally to 755. Which? has urged banks to talk to local communities before implementing closures. Unemployment

The Office for National Statistics says that UK unemployment fell by 16,000 to 1.62 million in the three months to October.

The BBC reports that ‘the unemployment rate held steady at 4.8 per cent in the same period. Average weekly earnings excluding bonuses rose by 2.6 per cent in the year to October – slightly higher than the previous month.’ Holidays

British holidaymakers heading overseas will have to pay more for their trips in 2017 because of uncertainty over the vote to leave the European Union, sterling depreciation, rising oil prices and ongoing global events.

This is according to Travelzoo, an online travel firm, which says that four in five UK travel companies are preparing themselves for price increases in 2017.