March, 2009 news
Mortgage approvals jump 19%
The number of mortgages approved rose significantly in February, according to new figures from the Bank of England.... Read more »
Car scrappage scheme could help industry
The AA has urged the Government to make a decision on a potential `car scrappage scheme`, in which drivers could part-exchange their old cars in return for cash to put towards a new car purchase, as car sales figures continue to fall.... Read more »
UK close to bottom of mortgage market, expert says
Britain is currently close to the bottom of the mortgage market, meaning the cost of such loans is likely to rise in the near future, it has been suggested.... Read more »
Bank of England: no more tax cuts
Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has told the Government that Britain cannot afford any further tax cuts or public spending increases to fight the recession.... Read more »
25th March was `Debt Freedom Day`
New research has shown that it took the average worker in the UK 83 days to earn enough money to pay the interest on their debts in 2009.... Read more »
Home loan approvals rise for third month
New figures from the BBA (British Bankers` Association) have shown that the number of home loan approvals increased for the third consecutive month in February.... Read more »
Second charge mortgages `down`
Second charge mortgages are down as a result of the ongoing recession, new research suggests.... Read more »
26% would spend extra cash on debts
Just over a quarter of British citizens would use any `spare` money they had to pay off debts before anything else, new research claims.... Read more »
Lack of loans contributes to car industry downturn
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has reported a severe drop in the number of new cars being produced in the UK, as low consumer demand and the reduced availability of loans continue to stifle the industry.... Read more »
CML: Government policies hurt mortgage lending
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has suggested that the Bank of England`s recent base rate cuts have reduced the funds required by lenders for loans and mortgages. ... Read more »
Cameron: Reducing debt `would take priority`
The Conservatives would focus on reducing government debt, not reducing taxes, David Cameron has said.... Read more »
Central heating insurance `could have saved money` for 2 million
Around two million people could have saved money last year by taking out appropriate central heating insurance, research from comparison site uSwitch has revealed.... Read more »
Bank of England: deflation may be short-lived
The Bank of England has claimed that deflation will be `short-lived` as long as decisive action is taken.... Read more »
FSA announces banking reforms
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has recommended a number of changes to banking rules in order to prevent a repeat of the events that led to the recession.... Read more »
UK adults `less financially equipped to care for parents`
The majority of adults with elderly parents are less equipped to cover the costs of professional care than they were a year ago, it has been found.... Read more »
Pensioners `vulnerable to inflation`
Pensioners are particularly vulnerable to inflation, a firm has claimed.... Read more »
Pensioners` finances `stretched by inflation`
The finances of British pensioners are being stretched due to the relatively high inflation rates they are subject to, it has been suggested.... Read more »
Consumers `reluctant to give mortgage advice`
As a result of the current economic conditions, many consumers are unwilling to provide friends, family and colleagues with advice concerning mortgages.... Read more »
Consumers `need to build up savings to protect themselves`
Despite the current low interest rates in the UK, it is important for consumers to build up savings in order to protect themselves, it has been suggested.... Read more »
Consumers `to use decreases in loan repayments to reduce debt`
Consumers may take advantage of new opportunities to reduce their debts, thanks to reduced interest caused by a lower base rate, it has been claimed.... Read more »
Students taught about debt
Pupils at a UK school have taken part in debt literacy workshops taught by local university students, it has been revealed.... Read more »
Coalition highlights `universal banking obligation`
MPs, unions and interest groups have outlined plans which could see the Post Office becoming a Post Bank - a `people`s bank` - the BBC reports.... Read more »
Quantitative easing `dangerous for pensions`
An expert economist has warned that quantitative easing could have negative implications for pension savers across the UK, londonstockexchange.com reports.... Read more »
Bank of England responds to Mandelson car loan comments
The Bank of England yesterday rejected the suggestion by business secretary Peter Mandelson that negotiations with the Bank regarding aid for the UK`s struggling car industry have been moving too slowly.... Read more »
Average household wealth `down £45,000 last year`
A new study has suggested that the average household experienced a £45,000 (17%) fall in wealth in 2008.... Read more »
Housebuilder offers free insurance
Housebuilder Barratt Homes has offered some of its London homebuyers three years` free insurance in an attempt to attract new business.... Read more »
Loans scheme criticised
The Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme has been criticised by firms that claim banks are still unwilling to provide them with loans.... Read more »
CML: Little room for mortgage rates to come down
Despite the latest reduction in the UK`s base rate of interest, consumers are unlikely to see mortgage rates fall further.... Read more »
Many consumers `reluctant to get a mortgage`
The majority of consumers would rather rent a property than take out a mortgage, the results of a recent survey indicate.... Read more »
`Pro-debt` view of ministers contributed to recession
The chief executive of the FSA (Financial Services Authority), Hector Sants, has criticised the Government`s actions in recent years.... Read more »
IFS: Older and poorer households facing higher inflation
Pensioners and poorer people are facing much higher inflation than the average UK resident, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reports.... Read more »
Mortgage commitment from major provider
The Government has announced an `agreement in principle` with Lloyds, in which the banking group will commit to specified amounts of mortgage lending and business lending.... Read more »
Savers `saving 25% less each month`
New research has suggested that the average amount put away by savers each month has fallen by almost 25% compared with this time last year.... Read more »
Quantitative easing could help loans market
Following the Bank of England`s announcement last week that it would be introducing new money into the economy through `quantitative easing`, there may be reason to expect something of a recovery in the loans market in the months ahead.... Read more »
Child Support Agency pursues `old debts`
The Child Support Agency is chasing parents in connection with debts accrued many years ago, the BBC reports.... Read more »
Ex-smokers could save thousands on insurance
Ex-smokers could save thousands on insurance Giving up the habit could save smokers thousands on their insurance, a price comparison site has claimed.... Read more »
Loans: rates `cannot drop much further`
With the base rate at an unprecedented low of 0.5%, experts believe that interest rates on both loans and savings are unlikely to drop much further, according to the BBC.... Read more »
Consumers `£820m in debt to energy providers`
New research from uSwitch.com has suggested that around 25% of households are in debt to their energy providers.... Read more »
Deposit size `does not make a difference to cost of buying a property`
The size of a deposit does not make a difference to the overall cost of purchasing a house or flat, it has been claimed.... Read more »
High LTV mortgages `help first-time buyers`
High loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages make it easier for first-time buyers to enter the property market.... Read more »
Recession "has compounded" debt problems
Debt problems among UK consumers have been made worse by the ongoing recession, it has been claimed.... Read more »
Calls made for increased funding in mortgage market
An industry body has called for increased funding to be put into the UK`s mortgage market.... Read more »
Worst of job cuts could be over by Easter
The ongoing `cull` of jobs could start slowing down by Easter, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).... Read more »
Car loans package `too complicated`
The Government`s car loans package may be `too complicated` to succeed, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).... Read more »
Rail companies may be forced to cut season ticket prices
Off-peak and season ticket rail fares may be set to come down next year, after the Government rejected requests from rail operators to ignore the existing pricing rules.... Read more »
`Bank of mum and dad` lending children £12,000 each
A new survey has suggested that more than half of parents with children over the age of 16 have lent or given their offspring a total of just under £12,000 each.... Read more »
31% consider skipping bills and debt repayments
Nearly a third of British citizens would consider cutting back on essential monthly bills and payments towards their credit card, loan or mortgage debts as a result of today`s economic problems. ... Read more »
Church leaders speak out on debt
Yesterday, 25th February, West Yorkshire church leaders came together to `make a public statement on debt in society`, as church-poverty.org reports.... Read more »
Consumer confidence rises: GfK NOP
A new survey has suggested that overall consumer confidence rose in February, compared with the previous month.... Read more »
Fewer car buyers looking for brand new cars
The latest Car Purchase Index from AA Personal Loans has suggested that car buyers are now two thirds more likely to buy a second-hand or ex-demonstration car than a brand new vehicle.... Read more »
Cheaper mortgages - for people with deposits
Monthly mortgage payments for newly bought properties have plummeted in the past year - but only for people who can lay down enough of a deposit.... Read more »
Scottish Power cuts bills
Domestic energy provider Scottish Power has become the fifth major energy company to announce price reductions.... Read more »
Millions `cutting back on insurance`
A survey by insurance company LV= has suggested that over a million British citizens have reduced their insurance cover as the economic downturn has taken hold.... Read more »
Banks to agree to more loans
The Government`s Asset Protection Scheme aims to help banks feel more confident about their balance sheets - giving them more confidence to loan money to individuals and businesses.... Read more »
Some credit cards raise interest on existing debt
Some credit card providers are raising the interest rate they charge existing customers on the debt they`ve already run up.... Read more »
Insurance providers will be quick to help those hit by bad weather
Insurance providers will be `acting as quickly as possible to help customers hit by the current spell of bad weather`, according to the ABI (Association of British Insurers).... Read more »
Mortgage approvals rise in January
Mortgage approvals in the UK rose in January, according to the BBA (British Bankers` Association).... Read more »
Cheaper mortgages - for people with deposits
Monthly mortgage payments for newly bought properties have plummeted in the past year - but only for people who can lay down enough of a deposit.... Read more »
Halifax: house prices down 2.3% in February
New figures from mortgage lender Halifax have shown that house prices fell by a further 2.3% in February, compared with January prices.... Read more »
RICS: Low prices may revive property sales
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has said that property sales may rise this year due to low house prices reigniting people's interest in buying a home.... Read more »
40% struggle to pay their bills
40% of people are struggling to pay their households bills, charity Age Concern has claimed, while warning people not to cut back on essential spending.... Read more »
Unsecured debt payments cost 1 in 12 over half their income
Around 1 in 12 UK adults spend more than half of their income on servicing their unsecured debts, a YouGov survey has claimed.... Read more »
Brown considers ways of ensuring car loans
The Government "will do what it can to help" the car industry, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said.... Read more »
250,000 debt consolidation loans before Easter
Whatever the worries about limited credit availability, at least one bank believes that a quarter of a million debt consolidation loans could be taken out by Easter.... Read more »
Base rate falls to 0.5%
The Bank of England today cut its base rate to 0.5%, in another move aimed at reviving the economy by stimulating lending to businesses and individuals.... Read more »
Food prices `still on the rise`
New statistics have shown that the average price of food is on the rise, despite the headline rate of inflation falling.... Read more »
BBA: Loans on the rise
New figures have shown that net lending to consumers in the UK rose in January.... Read more »
Consumers cut spending and start saving to avoid debt
A new survey has suggested that consumer attitudes are shifting towards saving, as a result of rising unemployment, the `credit crisis` and a `debt hangover` from over-spending at Christmas.... Read more »
Building society helps customers with credit card debt
A major building society has been judged the most responsible credit card lender for the second year running at The Card Awards.... Read more »
Cut to the bank rate would be `bad news`
Any further reduction in the Bank of England`s bank rate (also known as the base rate) would be `bad news for almost everyone connected to the savings and mortgage markets`, the Building Societies Association (BSA) has stated, looking to the decision which will be announced tomorrow.... Read more »
Mortgage rates rise ahead of base rate announcement
One mortgage lender has raised its mortgage rates, with other lenders expected to follow, ahead of this week`s base rate announcement by the Bank of England, The Times reports.... Read more »
Lenders `may opt not to repossess if tenants are involved`
Landlords may be able to avoid the repossession of their properties if they inform their lenders that there are tenants residing in them, it has been claimed.... Read more »
Personal debt `soaring in Wales`
Levels of personal debt in Wales are rising significantly, it has been claimed.... Read more »
UK `sees increase in mortgage overpayments`
There has been a rise in the number of consumers choosing to overpay on their mortgages, it has been revealed.... Read more »
Financial `age of innocence` over by seven
Today's children have more money and are making financial decisions earlier than their parents' generation, claims a report from pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group), an independent charity which 'helps schools to plan and teach personal finance relevant to students' lives and needs'.... Read more »
UK train fares higher than on the Continent
Train fares in the UK can be far higher than they are on the Continent, according to a study by rail watchdog Passenger Focus.... Read more »
Savers 'abandoning ISAs'
Low interest rates might be good news for some mortgage holders, but people with bank accounts have had to watch the returns on their savings drop along with the Bank of England's base rate.... Read more »
Business loans: tough times
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has published the results of its Access to Finance survey, which looks at the issues facing companies looking for loans and other forms of credit.... Read more »