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Every Friday, we take an overview of the mortgage market before rounding up the best rates with independent experts from .

Mortgage rates have declined for a fourth consecutive month, but lenders are making cuts at a slower rate. 

A typical two-year fixed deal rate fell by 0.06 percentage points between the start of May and June to sit at 5.12%. The average five-year fixed mortgage rate dropped just 0.01 percentage point to reach 5.09%, Moneyfacts found. 

By comparison, average two and five-year fixed rates fell more steeply by 0.14 and 0.08 percentage points between April and May. 

Some borrowers may have hoped for rates to fall more rapidly after the Bank of England cut its base rate to 4.25% last month. 

But, these changes affect variable rate deals faster, as lenders often price in interest rate cut forecasts into their fixed mortgage deals months in advance. 

Volatile swap rates, which determine how much banks are charged to borrow in order to lend to customers, have also caused lenders to act more conservatively. 

In fact, over the last week, we have seen several major lenders increasing rates as a result. 

Barclays put up rates by as much as 0.24% and TSB made increases of 0.12%.

But, not all hope is lost - more cuts could be in the pipeline. 

Moneyfacts spokesperson Caitlyn Eastell said: "Mortgage rates are continuing a downward trajectory, albeit at a slower pace and smaller margins despite last month's cut to the base rate. 

"There has been some volatility with swap rates and could explain why lenders are moving rates in the opposite direction, but they are currently sat just below their 30-day lows, so it is possible to see rates drop in the coming weeks." 

We have seen some lenders already moving in that direction, including Royal Bank of Scotland by 0.3%, NatWest by 0.3%, and TSB by up to 0.15%.

Here's a look at the lowest mortgage rates on the market... 

Moneyfacts also picks out "best buys" that look beyond rates to take into account fees and incentives, which could come in handy if you have exhausted your savings for a deposit... 

What about house prices? 

The average UK house price fell by around 拢1,150 or 0.4% month-on-month in May, taking the typical sale price to 拢296,648, according to an index.

Despite the monthly price drop, property values have increased by more than 拢7,000 over the past year, Halifax said.

May's month-on-month price fall follows a 0.3% increase in April.

The annual rate of house price growth also slowed to 2.5% in May, from 3.2% in April.

Three-quarters of parents have bought their children beauty products in the last year, a survey suggests.

Parents spent 拢111 on average on items such as lip balms (41%), face moisturisers (39%), and cleansers (37%), according to the poll for cashback and rewards site Rakuten.

They made the purchases to boost their child's confidence (41%), and to bond with their children (24%).

Fathers were more willing to spend on their children's beauty regimes, spending 拢144 per year compared with the average 拢82 paid for by mothers.

"With skincare and make-up routines and trends taking over social media, it's no surprise that younger children are asking for more luxurious beauty products," said Bola Sol, from Rakuten.

The FTSE 100 has secured a new record closing high after riding out a US trade war-linked slump.

The index of London's leading shares gained 20 points to hit 8,884, surpassing the 3 March peak of 8,771 and leaving its value more than 8.6% up in the year to date.

It was achieved despite gloomy official figures covering April - when the impact of the US trade war started to be felt, household bills spiked and budget tax and wage rises hit employers for the first time.

Shoppers who pay retailers directly from their bank have been warned they have fewer protections against shoddy products or those that never arrive.

The payment option lacks the protections offered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which means credit card companies can be held liable for purchases that go wrong and any associated refund.

People using a debit card or a credit card can also get money back via the chargeback scheme at participating shops.

"We'd urge consumers to think carefully before using [pay by bank] to book events or make substantial purchases 鈥� for now, your good old-fashioned credit or debit card may be the best option," says Which? Money editorJenny Ross. 

Those using pay by bank do have general purchase rights under the Consumer Rights Act, which says goods must be fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality.

But Which? said these protections are not always easy to enforce, and in some cases, people may end up needing to go to a small claims court.

They may also face difficulties in the event of a business going bust, the consumer group said.

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter

There had already been a fall in pre-market trading (see our 11.26 post), and now, as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) opened, we know for sure the drop is steep.

Boeing has shed more than 4.5% from its share price as the maker of the Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad earlier today. 

Another NYSE-listed company, the multinational General Electric Aerospace, made engines for Air India's planes.  Its share price has fallen 2.2% on the open. 

More than a third of parents have quit their job or considered quitting in the past year due to the cost of childcare, a survey has found.

Some 15% of parents with a child under five have left work, while another 20% have considered it, according to the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC).

The group criticised the government for paying providers "less than it costs to deliver those hours".

"At the moment, it feels like the government is giving to parents with one hand and taking with the other," said Sarah Ronan, director of the EECC.

"If providers are to stay open, they have to pass on that shortfall to parents with fee increases. 

"The reality is that continued underfunding is pushing up costs for parents, holding down wages in the sector, and driving staff shortages."

One in three (32%) of the parents surveyed had to borrow money from family or friends, or take out a credit card or loan to pay for childcare.

One in five parents (22%) had to cut back on food shopping in the past twelve months, the survey also found.

Fuller's raised the price of a pint of beer by around 15p across its pubs after an 拢8m hit in staff costs, the firm's boss has said.

That came after April's minimum wage rise and increase in employer national insurance contributions, which combined for a double whammy on the hospitality industry.

Simon Emeny, the Fuller, Smith & Turner chief executive, said prices will be "under review" over the rest of the year, to make sure "going to the pub remains an affordable treat".

The pub group is just the latest to increase the cost of pints, with the British Beer and Pub Association warning the average price would top 拢5 for the first time.

Added costs on the sector, the BBPA said, would raise the average cost by around 21p.

But Emeny also said costs cannot be offset by price rises alone.

Fuller, Smith & Turner, which has around 5,500 staff, is investing in its bars and staff training, in the hope of driving sales higher and countering its costs.

"Six months down the line and I don't think price increases are the only answer," he said.

"It has to come through higher sales." 

He added the consumer spending outlook would be sensitive to the interest rate outlook - and whether the government increases personal taxes.

Fuller's posted a 32% jump in underlying pre-tax profits to 拢27m for the year to 29 March.

Like-for-like sales rose 5.2%, and the group said growth continued into the first 10 weeks of the new financial year, at a more muted rate of 4.2%.

Hybrid working is enjoyed by more than a quarter of British staff, having become steadily more common since 2020.

But it is higher earners who are benefiting the most, data from the Office for National Statistics reveals.

Almost half of workers (45%) with an income of 拢50,000 or more worked both from home and in the office between January and March, while just 8% of those earning less than 拢20,000 did.

Managers, directors and senior officials, those in professional occupations, and those with childcare responsibilities were the most likely to hybrid work.

Since 2022, there has been a "shift from full-time, office-based work to the hybrid-working pattern", the ONS said.

It has "become the 'new normal' for more than one in four workers".

Workers with a degree or equivalent qualification were 10 times more likely than those with no qualifications to work from home.

"Higher earners tend to have higher levels of education, which could give them greater access to roles involving hybrid and remote working," the ONS said.

The IT and professional, scientific and technical industries were some of the most likely to adopt hybrid working.

Workers aged between 30 and 49 were the most likely to hybrid work (36%), compared to 19% of employees aged 16-29 and 24% of those aged 50-69.

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter 

Looking at Boeing's share price, you can see this tragic crash in India is already having an effect.

Its share price value is down more than 8% in pre-market trading. We'll get more detail when the New York Stock Exchange opens at 2.30pm.

Air India is majority owned by the Indian conglomerate Tata Group and minority owned by Singapore Airlines.

The part of Tata that owns Air India is a private company, so their share price value is not publicly traded and visible. So far, there's been no after-hours trading for Singapore Airlines.

Another multinational General Electric (GE) Aerospace made engines for Air India's planes.  Its share price is down more than 4% in pre-market trading. 

No one likes the date in their calendar when their MOT rolls around. 

But to make things a little less stressful, consumer expert Scott Dixon - known as - has given us some tips on what to look out for to help your vehicle pass with flying colours. 

Some of the most common failures are faulty steering, brakes, suspension, worn or damaged tyres, cracked windscreens and faulty lights. 

Dixon recommends you get your car serviced a couple of weeks before your MOT, in case there are any complex or costly issues. 

This will give you time to get them fixed and get your car through first time without any advisories. 

Aside from taking your car for a service, there are also some easy checks you can run yourself... 

Suspension

Listen for unusual clunks while you're driving - this could be a sign of a damaged suspension. 

You could also check by pushing the car down on each corner. It should return to normal without bouncing a few times. 

Another option is to look with a torch under the wheel arch, as this should reveal any obvious defects. 

Lightbulbs

Blown bulbs are a common MOT failure, but they're cheap to fix. 

Walk around your car and check all the bulbs are working - this includes the headlights, sidelights, brake lights, indicators and the number plate bulb.

Dixon says it's "not an easy job" to change the lightbulbs yourself on most modern cars, as the MOT will also check the positioning of the light. He recommends getting this done professionally. 

Brakes

Squealing or grinding noises may be a sign your brake pads need replacing. 

You should also check whether your car stops in a straight line, or whether it pulls in different directions. 

Don't forget about the handbrake, too. Test it out on a slope and see if it securely holds the car. If it doesn't, you should get it adjusted. 

Wipers

It's easy to check if your wipers work okay, but you should also make sure to inspect the blades for tears and rips. 

They should be able to clean the windows with no smears. 

Dixon says you don't need to pay Halfords to change your wiper blade as you can "do it yourself in seconds". All you need to do is look for a YouTube tutorial. 

He also recommends buying the Bosch wiper blades, as he says these are good quality and will also be a sign you've looked after your car well when you come to sell it. 

Tyres

One thing to look out for is tread depth. You can do this by looking for the "wear bar" that sits between the tread. 

If it's close to 1.6mm and is low, you should get the tyre replaced so it's not flagged as an advisory. 

Also check for perished tyre walls, which can happen when a vehicle is standing for any length of time. 

Uneven tyre wear is another potential issue, and if there are signs of this you should get the tyre replaced and tracking and suspension checked. 

Seat belts

These must be in good condition and working order, with no tears or knots. 

Registration plates

Your number plates should be clean and visible with a working light bulb at the rear. You may need to give them a wipe and replace the bulb if necessary. 

Bodywork

This should be in good condition, without damage such as loose bumpers or sharp edges. 

Dixon advises against using automatic car washes during your car's lifetime, saying they "wreck your car". 

"It's not just your paintwork but they can also damage the wiper blades and the bodywork," he says. 

Check for warning lights

You'll need to take your vehicle to a trusted garage or mechanic for this. 

Exhaust emissions

Some diesel vehicles can fail their MOTs based on emissions. To avoid this, you can buy a fuel treatment pack and take your car for a good run to clear the fuel lines and tank.

Driving for at least 30 to 50 minutes at a sustained speed on a motorway or A-road should help to clear the filter. 

Windscreen

You should make sure the driver's view of the road isn't obstructed, so check for stone chips at eye level and remove any obstructions such as air fresheners and mobile phone cradles. 

What else should you think about? 

Make sure your car is clean beforehand, as a tester can refuse to do your MOT if the vehicle is filthy and full of rubbish. 

Giving your car a clean can also give you a chance to inspect it, Dixon says. 

Another thing to do is to check last year's MOT for any advisories that might crop up this time. 

These potential issues will still be there - so it's best not to ignore them. 

You can check your vehicle's MOT history using .