From the editor
Don't read today's hold as a reason to wait. The Bank kept rates at 3.75 per cent and signalled higher-for-longer; if you are refixing a mortgage, the cheap deals are not coming back soon, so lining up quotes now is about being ready rather than guessing the next move.
Use the cheap week. Food inflation dipped this month but is tipped to climb again — so batch-cook and freeze the things that keep, while the ingredients are at their softest price in months.
Watch the late one together. England play Ghana on Tuesday night; whatever else is being automated, a tournament is still one of the few things the whole country watches live, all at once. Stay up for it.
The Playbook is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.
The Playbook turns the edition's analysis into what a competent friend would actually do about it — process, never position, and once in a while permission to simply enjoy the evening.
- James Vahid The Bank held at noon. The warning it attached was the real story.
- Henry Ogundipe Kane scored from the spot. Then we all watched a screen to find out if it counted.
- Priya Anand Your shop eased a little this month. Everyone who sells you food expects it to climb again.
- Cosima Wren The month's best television is all about being watched.