Spending Habits
Christmas spending catches up with us in March
Almost a third (31%) of personal insolvencies that occur in March have been triggered by overspending during the festive season, according to figures released by the insolvency trade body R3.
Holidaymakers adapt travel plans to fit their budget
In a potential boost for holiday companies over three quarters (77 per cent) of holidaymakers believe they will take as much holiday in 2010 as last year, according to research by Post Office Travel Money.
Young people unaware of their consumer rights
Young Brits are losing out because they don’t know their rights when it comes to returning faulty goods, research suggests.
Shoppers less likely to return goods bought online
A survey by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) reveals that almost two-thirds of consumers are less likely to return goods they buy online, compared to those they buy on the high street.
Over 50s wanderlust untouched by recession
The over-50s have become the bedrock of the UK travel industry – one of the sectors hardest hit by the recession – according to research by over-50s insurance provider Staysure.co.uk.
Consumer confidence defies January blues
The Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index has risen for the second consecutive month, increasing by six points to 80 in February.
Zero pay increase for over 16 million workers
Despite the economy being on the mend, over 16 million workers (57%) do not expect a pay rise this year, and those who do can expect a rise of just 1.9% - a net monthly increase of just £27, according to a report from uSwitch.com.
Contactless card limit increases
The maximum limit for contactless card transactions in the UK has increased from £10 to £15, making paying for small transactions by debit or credit card even easier for millions of customers.
Know your consumer rights
The ‘Know Your Consumer Rights' campaign is a joint initiative by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Consumer Direct and Consumer Focus to make sure shoppers get a fair deal.Top Tips for ‘knowing your rights' when shopping:
Brits save money by booking holidays direct
Holidaymakers saved themselves a collective £4.92 billion last year by cutting out the middle man and booking directly, new research from Santander Cards has revealed.
The cost of raising a child tops £200,000
For the first time, parents are likely to have to shell out more than £201,000 on raising a child from birth to the age of 21, according to a survey from LV=. This equates to £9,610 a year, £800 a month or £26 a day.
Christmas spending prompts sharp rise in retail instalment credit
Store instalment credit rose sharply in December as savvy consumers looked to use credit sensibly to meet specific purchase needs.
UK adults most likely in EU to buy online
In 2009, a higher percentage of UK adults bought or ordered goods and services over the Internet in the previous 12 months than in any other EU country, according to Eurostat figures highlighted in a chapter of Social Trends published by the Office for National Statistics.
Inflation rises to 3.5 per cent
In the year to January, the consumer prices index (CPI) rose by 3.5 per cent, up from 2.9 per cent in December, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Brits still relying on credit cards for everyday costs
Research from moneysupermarket.com has discovered the depth of reliance Brits have on credit cards. The research found that one in five of us carry more than three credit cards and that 17 per cent of credit card holders use their card at least once a day, with a further 28 per cent using their card at least once a week.