The Tug-of-War in Your Wallet, June 2026 Inflation & Affordability Update
I was chatting with a neighbour over the garden fence yesterday, and they said something I hear almost every day: "Avi, surely everything is just getting more expensive and we’re all falling behind?"
It’s a common myth that we are stuck in a never-ending cycle of prices rising faster than we can keep up. People look at the "big numbers" on the news and assume their dream of moving to a bigger house or buying their first home is drifting further away. But if we pull back the curtain and look at the actual numbers for June 2026, the reality is much more interesting—and actually quite encouraging.
What is this "Inflation" anyway?
Think of inflation like a cheeky ghost that sneaks into the supermarket and slowly changes the price tags while you aren’t looking. If a loaf of bread cost £1.00 last year and costs £1.03 today, that’s inflation. It covers everything from the price of filling up your car to the cost of a haircut.
Right now, that "ghost" is moving at a rate of 3%. This is actually a bit of a relief because earlier this year, in February, it was much higher at 3.6%. While prices are still going up, they aren’t sprint-racing upwards like they used to.
The Great News About Your Pay Packet
Here is the bit most people miss: while the price of your weekly shop has gone up by 3%, the average amount of money people are earning in their jobs has gone up by 3.7%.
Did you catch that? Your pay is actually growing faster than the cost of living! This leaves you with a little bit of extra "breathing space"—about 0.7% more spending power than you had before. It’s like finding a fiver in your coat pocket every time you go out; it’s not a lottery win, but it means you are gradually becoming "better off" in real terms.
What does this mean for your move?
If you’ve been thinking about moving or getting your first set of keys, this "extra" money in people’s pockets is a huge deal.
The Bank of England has kept the "base rate"—which is basically the blueprint for how much it costs to borrow money—steady at 3.75%. Because people are earning a bit more and the cost of borrowing isn't jumping around, we are seeing more people getting "the thumbs up" from banks. In fact, 63,500 people had their home moves approved this month, which is the highest we’ve seen all year!
The average price of a home across the country is now £284,862. That’s actually a tiny bit lower than it was a few months ago, so while your wages are going up, house prices have stayed relatively flat. It’s a rare moment where the scales are tipping back in favour of the person buying.
Bringing it home to null
So, how does this national "tug-of-war" affect us here in null?
When people across the country feel a bit wealthier, it filters down to our local streets. In the null postcode sector, we have a "balanced market." This means there isn't a crazy scramble where prices are being pushed through the roof, but things are still moving steadily. With 117 properties currently for sale in null, there is plenty of choice.
Because it’s taking about 203 days on average to sell a home here at the moment, buyers have time to breathe and make the right decision. And for those who have owned their home in null for a long time, the news is great: over the last seven years, homes in this area have grown in value by over £35,000!
The Bottom Line
Things are looking steadier than they have in a long time. With your wages finally winning the race against rising prices, that goal of moving to a new home is becoming a lot more "doable." If you’re worried about the headlines, just remember: your "buying power" is actually growing.
The sun is out, the market is steady, and there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about the rest of 2026.