Business News

Nationwide confirms slower house price growth. 30/08/07 Click to find out more>>

One in four 'fails to save money'.  29/08/07  Click to find out more>>>.

Battles ahead over IHT   20/08/2007 Click to find out more>>>

A supermarket price war helped the UK's rate of inflation to fall to 1.9% in July, well below analysts' forecasts.     14/08/2007

The Consumer Price Index dropped sharply from June's level of 2.4%, raising hopes that further rises in interest rates will not be needed. It is the first time UK inflation has fallen below the government's target of 2% since March 2006. The Retail Price Index, a measure often used in wage bargaining, fell to 3.8% in July from 4.4% the previous month.

Pensioners have a total debt of £57bn     13-Aug-2007      Click to find out more>>>

The Bank of England's interest rate setters have kept the cost of borrowing on hold at 5.75%.              .            03/08/2007

The news will come as a relief to people with variable rate mortgages, who have had to cope with five rate rises in the past year. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had been widely expected to keep rates on hold this month, as it waits to see the impact of the rises so far. But many economists still predict that rates will go up to 6% later this year.

We are all living longer        25/06/2007

Life expectancy at age 65 is now at its highest ever level according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Life expectancy at birth is also at its highest ever level: newborn boys can expect, on average, to live to 76.6 years and newborn females to 81.0 years.

Retirement planning has, therefore, never been more important. To ensure your retirement planning is on track contact The Financial Practice. For the full ONS article click on the following link Office for National Statistics - Life Expectancy

  

Average house prices to rise to ten times average earnings           20/06/07

Average UK house prices could rise to ten times average annual earnings by 2026 says the newly created National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU). Click here for more information – Homes 'to cost ten times salary'   

Home Information Packs delayed                        20/06/07

The government has delayed introducing Home Information Packs (HIPs) until 1 August 2007. The packs were to be compulsory for all houses put on the market from 1 June but now are only needed from 1 August for properties of four bedrooms and upwards. The packs will be phased in for smaller properties as sufficient energy assessors become available.  Click here for more information – Home Information Packs

 

Interest rates unchanged   15/06/07

The June meeting of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted to keep the base rate at 5½%. This is despite fears that inflation will continue to rise. A further rise in interest rates is still expected for later in 2007. Click here to go to the Bank of England website – Bank of England

 

 

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