The average interest rate on instant access savings accounts has dropped from 3.76% to 3.3% since the beginning of the year, MoneyExpert has revealed.  
The financial comparison has found nearly 300 savings accounts pay less than 2% interest and many banks and building societies are cutting rates, despite efforts to attract cash to fund mortgage […]

Inflation could hit 7% this year as British consumers are hit with soaring food and petrol bills, according to Chelsea Building Society.  
Recent research from the society showed the annual rate of inflation could hit 7% for the first time in 17 years. It found household energy costs, food bills, petrol prices and rental payments […]

As inflation figures for July top 4%, Fidelity has suggested three ways to play rising prices through UK stock market investments.
It has identified three different groups of companies which are insulated against rising prices and at best present an opportunity for superior growth prospects.
Aruna Karunathilake, manager of Fidelity’s UK Aggressive Fund, said: “Inflation, or more […]

There is nearly twice the number of health insurance policies for pets in the UK than there are for people, according to Tesco Pet Insurance.
Last year, 23% of the UK’s pet population was insured whereas only 12.2% of the UK human population had private medical insurance.
The research proves that UK pet owners are amongst the […]

Rather than dampening consumers’ appetite for shopping, the credit crunch has actually resulted in a new trend of ’saving now, buying later’, according to Yorkshire Bank.  
A survey by the bank revealed 77% of Britons think paying for a high-value item is more satisfying when they have saved for it, rather than purchased it spontaneously […]

Average annual energy bills have risen from £912 to £1,127 since the beginning of the year, but recent research has revealed more than 10 million households will struggle to afford the increase.  
Families’ disposable income has dropped at the fastest rate since the 1970s this year, according to research from comparison site uSwitch. An increase […]

Comparison site Moneysupermarket has called on banks to lower overdraft charges and make the workings of the facilities clearer.
Its comments come in light of Barclays launching its Personal Reserve facility, which opts as a buffer beyond an agreed overdraft limit.
Kevin Mountford, head of savings and current accounts at Moneysupermarket, said: “There is real confusion and […]

Gartmore is predicting inflation pressures to yield in 2009, despite consumer price inflation rising to 2.4% above the Bank of England’s target rate in July.
The month-on-month increase from June (0.6%) was the largest since records began in 1997, with a surprisingly strong rise in food prices adding 0.3% to the annual rate.
Bank governor Mervyn King […]