Finance Friday: Pay Gaps & Plot Twists

Depop’s price tag just dropped… meanwhile equal pay is still decades away.

Hey you…

We’ve got the gender pay gap not expected to close until 2056 (yes, I’m being serious), inflation cooling, which means rate cuts might be creeping back into the eqaution and major brands like BrewDog and Depop getting a bit of a financial reality check.

Let’s get into it…

2056: The Year Women Finally Get Equal Pay?

The UK gender pay gap currently stands at 12.8%, equal to around £2,548 a year. If this remains at the current pace, it won’t fully close until 2056. The gap is currently widest in finance and insurance at a whopping 27.2%… as a woman in finance, this doesn’t shock me as much as it should.

Why it matters:

This builds up over time. Lower pay means lower bonuses, lower pension contributions, lower investment capacity and ultimately lower retirement wealth. Over a 30-40 year career, that gap snowballs. It’s why career planning, negotiation and pension contributions matter, but also why structural change matters too.

I actually posted about the gender pay gap last year… and let’s just say it sparked a lot of debate. If you haven’t seen it, take a look here.

Inflation Falls - Are Rate Cuts Coming?

UK inflation fell from 3.4% to 3% in January, helped by lower fuel, food and airfare prices. US inflation also cooled to 2.4%, its lowest since May.

Why it matters:

Let’s just clear one thing up, inflation falling doesn’t mean prices are falling, it just means they’re rising more slowly. But softer inflation and cooling wage growth increase the chance of interest rate cuts this spring. That could mean cheaper mortgages and borrowing later this year.

Unemployment Hits 5.2%

UK unemployment rose to 5.2%, a near five-year high. Wage growth has slowed to 4.2% and hiring is weakening (especially for entry-level roles).

Why it matters:

A softer jobs market makes it harder for young people to find work. It also reduces inflation pressure, which gives the Bank of England more room to cut rates. It’s good news for borrowers, but tougher news for jobseekers.

Depop’s $400m Reality Check

Etsy is selling Gen Z resale app ‘Depop’ to eBay for $1.2bn, less than the $1.6bn it paid in 2021. This is due to competition from apps like Vinted and Temu stepping up.

Why it matters:

The resale market is still booming, but the competition is brutal. eBay is set on second-hand fashion being here to stay. For consumers, we expect to see more incentives, better features and potentially even lower fees as platforms compete.

Bayer’s $7.25bn Settlement Attempt

Bayer (an agrochemical maker) has proposed paying $7.25bn to settle US cancer claims linked to Roundup, on top of the roughly $10bn already paid since acquiring Monsanto.

Why it matters:

This is about drawing a line under years of costly litigation. Legal risks can weigh heavily on share prices. Investors often prefer certainty, even if it means writing a very large cheque.

Will BrewDog Recover?

BrewDog is exploring a sale or new investors after posting a £37m loss, alongside job cuts and bar closures.

Why it matters:

Consumer brands are under pressure as spending tightens. Rising costs, changing tastes and cautious consumers are forcing even well-known brands to rethink strategy.

The US Trade Gap Widens

The US trade deficit widened to $70.3bn in December. For all of 2025, it totalled roughly $901.5bn.

Why it matters:

Even with tariffs, we’re still importing a lot. Fixing a trade deficit isn’t as simple as saying “buy local”, unfortunately the global economy doesn’t work like that.

Finance Tip of The Week

If you have a mortgage or plan to get one this year, start reviewing your options now.

Check:
• When your current deal ends
• What rates are available
• Whether overpaying makes sense

If rates fall, lenders will move quickly, they might even move before if the cut is highly likely. Being prepared puts you in a stronger position.

Quick-Fire Round-Up

• Taylor Swift blocked a “Swift Home” trademark, protecting her 300+ registered brands

• Youth minimum wage gap may stay - leaving £1.86 per hour difference for 18–20 year olds

• Centrica profits halved as warmer weather cut British Gas earnings

• Japan to invest $36bn in US energy as part of a wider trade deal

• Companies linked to Sarah Ferguson are being struck off Companies House

But before you go, I need your help.

I’ve been thinking about creating a short, online-course. Nothing overly complicated, just the stuff everyone should properly understand (how to read your payslip, tax codes, where to start with investing etc…)

So, I want to know if this is something you guys would want and if yes, what would you to see? What confuses you the most?

Please, please do let me know - all notes appreciated!

Abi x

Ps. I recently spoke on Grace Beverley’s “Working Hard” podcast, where we touch on the pay gap, have a listen 👇🏼