Economy & Finances
Food prices up by 4.7% on last year
Food prices rose by an inflation-busting 4.7% last month compared to a year ago as retailers passed on soaring commodity costs, figures reveal. The BRC-Neilsen Shop Price Index showed food prices increased by their highest annual rate since the study began 18 months ago as the cost of rice, wheat and corn continued to increase unabated. ... more
Economy & Finances
Is it time to sell?
House prices have fallen by an average of nearly £45 a day since the beginning of the year. New figures show that the average value of a home in the UK has dropped by £44.39 every 24 hours or £310.73 a week so far during 2008, as the property market slows down. The pace of the falls has accelerated during the past 30 days, with homes... more
Economy & Finances
Worried shoppers 'turn to cash'
Worried shoppers are increasingly spending with cash instead of credit cards, a survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has suggested. A survey of 17,000 shops found cash was used for 60% of transactions last year - up from 54% in 2006 - and accounted for about a third of all money spent. The BRC said it showed a reluctance by people... more
Economy & Finances
Energy suppliers to triple fuel poor aid by 2010
LONDON - Britain's largest energy suppliers have agreed to triple the amount they spend on helping their poorest customers keep warm to 150 million pounds by the winter of 2010-11, the government said on Friday. (Advertisement) The biggest six suppliers have agreed to increase spending on social assistance programmes for the fuel poor --... more
Economy & Finances
Housing decline hits construction
A slowing housing market has hit the UK construction industry, with growth falling to its lowest level since 1996, according to a report. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors study said 1% more surveyors reported a rise in workloads than a fall in the first three months of 2008. This was down from 16% in the final three months of... more
Economy & Finances
More people are retiring in debt
More people are reaching state retirement age in debt - and borrowers approaching it owe four times more than their counterparts a decade ago, a study said. The survey, by Help the Aged and Barclays, found that a quarter of people approaching retirement age have outstanding consumer credit commitments. It said there had been "considerable... more
Economy & Finances
Quit cigarettes, live longer and debt free
National No Smoking Day was on Wednesday 12th March this year, but if you missed it there's still good reason to quit. Research from the mortgage broker Charcol, shows that people who give up smoking could use the money to pay their mortgage off years early and retire, with money to spend. Homeowners with a 25 year repayment mortgage could... more
Economy & Finances
How to afford... Having children
After the initial cooing over the new born baby and the obligatory trip down to the pub to 'wet the baby's head' most parents will start thinking about how the family finances are going to work in light of the new addition to the household. There are two main areas to focus on: 1. Ensure as a family you claim every child benefit you are... more
Economy & Finances
House prices fall modestly in February
LONDON - House prices fell again in February, the country's biggest mortgage lender said on Thursday, suggesting recent interest rate cuts have done little to support the market. The Halifax house price index showed property prices fell 0.3 percent last month, slightly more than the 0.2 percent forecast in a Reuters poll. That left house... more
Economy & Finances
Earthquake damage may cost millions
A "significant" earthquake which hit the UK resulted in at least one injury and damage likely to run into millions of pounds. The Association of British Insurers said that the cost of damage to homes and property is likely to be in excess of £10 million. The tremor hit at around 1am and was measured at 5.2 on the Richter scale. Its... more
| | | |
