Household Bills
Clear and green conscience - Brits go green in 2008
We’ve used enough wrapping paper to cover over two thirds of Britain, we’ve sent approximately 858 million Christmas cards, and we’ve wasted bin liners upon bin liners of food. But with the New Year in tow Brits are planning to turn their conscience green, according to new research by Friends Provident.
Inflation rises for all age groups as food prices soar
Although the official headline rate of inflation remained unchanged at 2.1% in November, Alliance Trust’s independent study found that the inflation rate facing all five of its identified age groups increased over the month.
Last-minute Christmas spending approaches £12 billion
This Christmas, people are planning to spend more on their festive shopping than they did last year. With only a week to go until Christmas, new research from Sainsbury’s Credit Cards indicates that the nation intends to spend some £11.85 billion during the last week before Christmas - £2.7 billion more than the bank’s research identified this time last year.
moneysupermarket.com: npower's new SOL 9 tariff
Commenting on npower's new SOL 9 tariff, Scott Byrom, utilities expert at price comparison site moneysupermarket.com, said: “High users of electricity will be disappointed with the introduction of npower’s SOL 9.
More evidence that energy price hikes are not far away
Wholesale energy prices, which have been increasing steadily, caused British Gas to raise the price of its ‘tracker’ tariff last week. Today, npower followed suit by announcing that its wholesale price tracker would rise by 17 per cent for gas and 13 per cent for electricity.
moneysupermarket.com: Centrica trading statement
Commenting on today’s trading statement from Centrica, Paul Schofield, head of utilities at moneysupermarket.com, said: “Today's statement may well mark the start of the battle for the best fixed-price tariff on the market.
Millions could be hit by energy price rise misery
British Gas’ owner, Centrica, has issued its trading statement highlighting a reduction in profit margins in the second half of 2007 due to increased wholesale prices. If this continues into 2008, the energy giant has hinted that a rise in household energy prices will be inevitable.
Last minute present dash costs Brits millions
With eleven days to go until Christmas Day, the latest Egg research finds that Britain’s last minute Christmas shoppers could be looking at a £594 million overspend.
Dumped by text or email
Like Britney Spears, when it comes to ending relationships, some people choose to hide behind technology by using texts or email to dump their partner.
“Rate trippers” to shop abroad this Christmas
2.2 million Brits will become “rate trippers” this Christmas, travelling abroad to do their Christmas shopping in order to take advantage of the strong pound and favourable exchange rates, according to new research1 from Cater Allen Private Bank.
What’s money between friends?
People in the UK are owed more than £26 billion in unpaid debts by their friends and family, new research by secure online payment provider PayPal reveals.
Another energy supplier unveils price increases
A second supplier has unveiled price increases on an energy ‘tracker’ plan – npower has announced that it is putting prices up by 17% for gas and 13% for electricity from 1st January, 2008.
Don’t let energy bills burn a hole in your pocket in 2008
Household bills have a major role to play in any New Year financial detox – and none more so than energy bills as the average energy bill now stands at £912.
Let it spend, let it spend, let it spend!
Results from this month’s Legal & General MoneyMood Survey show that reports of a ‘credit crunch’ haven’t dampened spending habits, with consumers ‘in the mood to spend’ at the highest level for 2007 and up three per cent from Nov 2006.
Energy giants keep schtum, leaving customers in the dark
Energy providers are failing to inform their customers of new cheaper tariffs, causing Brits to languish on more expensive tariffs and reaping the energy companies over £2.5bn per year, according to research from moneysupermarket.com.