Insurance premiums soaring

■■ HOME insurance premiums have increased by 25 per cent over the past three years, according to MoneySuperMarket.

Based on analysis of over six million home insurance quotes run on the website, the average combined home insurance policy (buildings and contents) is £144.70, up from £115.80 three years ago. Those living in Sunderland and Durham pay the least to insure their home at £118.97 and £119.22 respectively, while Londoners pay the most. Those in north-west London shell out £268.10 each year.

Rachel Wait, consumer affairs spokeswoman at MoneySuperMarket, said: “This year’s weather has been unpredictable. As a result, insurance costs in areas such as London may have risen due to an increase in subsidence claims.”

■■MORE than 600,000 people switched electricity supplier in September, up 10 per cent from the same month in 2018. Latest figures from Energy UK show 4.7million people have switched so far this year.

Cordelia Samson, energy expert from comparison site uSwitch, said: “This is the fifth highest month for electricity switching in the last few years, and reinforces the fact that the best way to ensure cheaper bills and better service is by shopping around and switching.

“With winter on the horizon and uncertainty about where energy prices will head next, consumers can lock in a fixed deal for less than £1000 a year now, with the guarantee that the price they pay won’t change for at least 12 months.”

■■MORE than a third of Brits don’t like their job, with men less likely to be happy at work than women. While pay packets are the factor valued most, less than half of people are satisfied with their level of pay.

But even among those who do get a decent wage, just one in five think they have a good job. The Research from Instant Offices also found the key reason people hand in their notice is a low salary. Others include boring work, a long commute and not liking a boss or line manager.