Excluding London it has been found that Milton Keynes is the most expensive place to operate a small business, this according to the Alliance and Leicester Business Banking unit.
It has found that the property rental costs, the price of labour and also transportation are higher here, meaning small businesses have to deal with higher operating costs before they can begin to make any profit. The Alliance and Leicester found Milton Keynes to be the most expensive place to rent retail space and also the eighth best place for wages.
One of the good things about this Alliance and Leicester survey is that high business costs are also associated with businesses doing well. Therefore there are opportunities for new businesses to succeed in Milton Keynes.
According to a Natwest Bank survey the people of Manchester are the biggest spenders in the UK, with the typical household spending GBP26,000 each year.
This spending figure is a full GBP2,000 more than the capital city, London, which will come as a big surprise to many. What may come as an even bigger surprise is that Manchester is also a great city for saving according to the Natwest Bank survey, with a higher than the national average 53 percent of Manchester residents putting money aside.
A spokesman from the Natwest Bank was pleased to see Manchester setting such a good example with their levels of savings, especially considering their spending habits. They should be seen as a shining example to others said the spokesman.
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.
