Savings figures for January 2006 were the highest for that month since 2001, with net inflows of £212m, compared to net withdrawals of £299m.
Other figures from the Building Societies Association (BSA) showed gross advances amounted to £3,174m in January 2006, compared to £2,682m in January 2005. Approvals reached £2,908m in January 2006, increasing from […]

Many first-time buyers receive family help to get on the ladder. But how long can parents carry on supporting the market? Paula John reports
Up to half of all young first-time buyers may be receiving financial help from their parents when it comes to getting together a deposit, according to research from the Council of Mortgage […]

Londoners are the most indebted people in the country, according to a new report. Mike Collins fishes for a few coins
London is the most indebted area of the UK, while those in the South West enjoy the least debt burden of anywhere across the country, according to research from credit monitoring service MyCallcredit.
The research, which […]

Cash machines charging customers for making withdrawals are becoming more common and MPs want more action to protect consumers from the fees. Andrew Partridge finds out more
UK banks, government departments and trade bodies have “been passing the buck” over ATM charges, according to a committee of MPs.
The Treasury Select Committee’s chairman, John McFall MP, told […]

The number of Brits that want to save has increased by 10 per cent in the last year, according to the Legal & General’s MoneyMood Survey.
A significant 65 per cent of adults in the UK said they were in the mood to save at the end of January compared to 59 per cent 12 […]

Retirement planning remained the UK consumer’s top motive to take financial advice in the final quarter of last year, according to IFAP – the organisation promoting the benefits of independent financial advice. Its data shows that the share of consumers seeking advice on their retirement provision rose significantly toward the end of 2005.
In total, […]

Buy-to-let lenders advanced a record 130,400 loans in the second half of last year, an increase of 39% over the preceding six months, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
The value of lending in the second half of 2005 was £14.6 billion, 47% higher than in the first six months of the year and also […]

People retiring this year will need a total lifetime income of at least £130,000 in addition to State benefits, as increased longevity means their money has to last longer, according to Prudential.
 
And those retiring over the next 15 years will need even more money as the proportion of State benefits, as part of pensioner […]