Household Bills
Little spring cheer for consumer confidence
Overall, consumers still feel downbeat as the Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index recorded a slight fall in March, ticking down to 41 from 43 in February. However, confidence has stayed broadly stable since the start of the year.
ASDA slashes the price of Easter for millions of families
ASDA has announced that it had delivered on its pledge to lower 12,500 prices by Easter across the entire store, as the supermarket continues its mission to drive down the cost of the weekly shop for millions of hard-pressed shoppers.
Bill payers' shock as sky high winter energy bills hit home
Following the coldest winter Britain has experienced for a decade and the heaviest snowfall seen in eighteen years, research from moneysupermarket.com can reveal 42 per cent of Brits have been left shocked by their most recent energy bills for the winter.
New efficiency standards for household appliances to save UK £150m
Fridges, freezers, televisions and washing machines are to have minimum energy standards and energy labels following an EU ruling.
BT and TalkTalk monthly line rental increases
Despite their customers being harder up than ever, BT has increased its monthly line rental charge by almost £1 from £10.27 to £11.25 and TalkTalk has added 75p per month to bring its charge from £10.50 to £11.25.
Rise in water bills pours more misery on struggling households
Household budgets across the UK are set to be stretched even further, as planned increases to water bills come into effect (1st April). The increases - 4.1% or £13 on average - will see the average household water bill now hitting £343 a year, up from £330 a year in 2008.
Best value energy providers for each region revealed
Following the recent price moves by all of the big six energy giant's moneysupermarket.com reveals the difference in energy prices across the UK regions. Brits could save as much as 22 per cent on their energy bills by moving to the cheapest available product. Meaning a staggering saving of £1.7 billion for UK households.
Rest of ‘big six’ should follow Scottish Power, says Which?
In response to Scottish Power's announcement that it will compensate customers who overpay for gas and electricity through excessive monthly direct debits, Martyn Hocking, Editor, Which? magazine, says: "With household budgets under pressure, it seems incredible that energy suppliers can effectively use their customers' money as ‘interest-free loans', by setting direct debit payments too high and allowing balances of hundreds of pounds to build up.
Consumers predict higher prices
The high cost of living against minimal pay rises is causing consumers to increasingly expect prices will rise over coming months, according to the latest Consumer Barometer from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets.
'Recession veterans' have learnt from past downturns
As the recession starts to hit the real economy, a new study from Lloyds TSB highlights the plight of the UK's 13.5 million ‘recession novices'.
Time for Twitter
We will spend an average of 7.2 years of our adult life online, which equates to 6.1 weeks a year or 19.6 hours a week on the internet, according to research by smile, the internet bank from The Co-operative Bank.
Make pounds stretch further for Mother's Day with PayPal
Mark Hodson, UK Marketing Director at PayPal, the world's largest online payment service says:
LV= employees break Guinness World Record
Employees of insurance and investment group LV= have broken a Guinness World Record by collecting 952 used mobile phones in just one week and donating them to charity.
Over 50's love talking dirty
The UK is a nation that loves to stay in touch, recent research from Saga Telephone Service shows. An overwhelming 79% of the population make up to five calls a day to loved ones, with a further one in ten (10%) people making between five and ten calls daily.
T-Mobile launches new Flext package
Commenting on T-Mobile's new Flext tariff James Parker, broadband manager at moneysupermarket.com, said: "T-Mobile is now packing its Flext offering with even greater punch.