New rules allow credit unions to expand

Nationwide restricts interest-only mortgages

The Nationwide Building Society has become the latest lender to tighten lending criteria on interest-only mortgages, which are estimated to account for around 40 per cent of mortgages in Britain. The building society currently offers interest-only mortgages to residential customers with 25 per cent equity in their property. From tomorrow, only customers with 50 per [...]

Inflation rate falls to 3.4%

The latest official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that inflation fell to 3.4 per cent in February, from 3.6 per cent in the previous month, according to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). Using the Retail Prices Index (RIP) measurement, which includes housing costs such a mortgage interest and council tax, inflation [...]

Property prices up 5% in March

UK house prices increased by £3,687 to £236,939 in March, a 4.9 per cent increase compared with the 2011 first quarter. The figures, from Rightmove’s house price index, represent the largest first-quarter rise in property prices since 2004, boosting hopes for an continued improvement in the market for the rest of the year. In London, [...]

Hole in the wall use reaches record levels

The use of ATMs (automated teller machines) increased to record levels last year according to the latest figures from the Payments Council. UK customers made 2.87 billion transactions at ‘hole in the wall’ machines during the year, accounting for total withdrawals of £191 billion, an average of £67 per visit. The represented the highest value [...]

Charity calls for budget to protect families

The Family and Parenting Institute has called on the Chancellor to avoid delivering a ‘Break-Up Budget’ on Wednesday. The charity, which aims to make the UK a better place for families and children, fears that a budget which puts family incomes under further pressure could threaten family life. The divorce rate in England and Wales [...]

Car insurers follow Marmalade in planning ‘black box’ policies

Research has revealed that more than 50% of drivers plan to switch to a black box insurance policy in the coming half decade. The UK’s young driver market leader Intelligent Marmalade (www.intelligentmarmalade.co.uk) is a product from the award winning young person’s car insurance provider Young Marmalade. “We have seen significant improvements in driver behavior since [...]

Chancellor determined to cut 50p tax rate

The question of whether or not to scrap the 50p income tax rate is dividing the coalition government in the run up to the budget on 21 March. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is determined to reduce income tax on earnings over £150,000, but the proposal has been met with disapproval by Lib Dem [...]

Stamp duty rush causes rents to fall

Rents on private accommodation fell by 0.6 per cent last month, to an average of £707, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL, a provider of residential property services. The agency suggests that the fall is likely to be temporary as it is related to an increase in the number of tenants deciding to [...]

93% of ISAs transferred within 15 days

Many savers will be planning to transfer their cash Isa, to take advantage of new deals appearing prior to the start of the higher Isa allowance on 6 April. They will be pleased to hear that there has been a significant improvement in the time taken to complete a transfer. Isa’s often offer an introductory [...]

Debt repayment increasingly difficult says CCCS

Although households reduced their debts last year they face a ‘tide’ of difficulties in repaying them, according to a study by the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS). The study of 370,000 cases handled by the counselling service suggests that youth unemployment and rising rents are key factors which cause people to fall into debt. 42% [...]