The May Fundamentals report produced by Legal and General suggests that the economic outlook for the UK is a negative one.
There are some positive factors said the Legal and General, such as low unemployment, the weaker pond helping exports and the fact that consumer spending is still active. However they see more negative elements than positive ones which leads them to rating the economic forecast as poor.
Key pointers include the much more difficult lending conditions facing borrowers, higher levels of debt and also a rate of inflation that is rising much too quickly. All in all the Legal and General view is that, unless changes are seen in this factors the UK economy could face real difficulties.
The Alliance and Leicester Premier 21 account turned one year old today and to mark the occasion a ten percent interest rate offer has been reintroduced for new customers.
The ten percent offer on the Alliance and Leicester current account will be valid for the first GBP1,000 deposited and kept in the account for 12 months. After the first year the rate will revert to a base rate tracker.
The current account is available to customers aged between 16 and 21, with an interest free overdraft facility available to those over 18. An Alliance and Leicester spokesman believes that by concentrating their efforts on smaller markets such as this they can deliver a product better suited to their needs.
New Lloyds TSB current account customers will be able to enjoy a 6 percent interest rate if they open the Lloyds Plus account before 13 July.
The account is paying this exceptional rate for 12 months from the date the account is opened on balances up to GBP25,002. After the year is up the interest rate will rever back to 4 percent, still a very good rate in itself. The one proviso made is that at least GBP1,000 must be paid into the Lloyds TSB current account each month.
A spokeswoman from Lloyds TSB proudly stood by the rate offered, delighted that it was offering higher rates while many of its competitors were reducing theirs.
