The UK base rate was held at its record low of 0.5% for the 33rd consecutive month as the Bank of England remained concerned about the strength of the recovery.
With so many different savings vehicles for your money, it can be difficult to tell how competitive an interest rate is. Our at-a-glance guide shows you the best rates for various types of account.
Earlier this year the money was on interest rates rising this summer. But now predictions are being revised as inflation remains stubbornly high and poor economic data continues to be released.
While the past three years have been bad enough, the signs are that the second half of the downturn is going to be even worse, with inflationary pressures sending prices up and the value of savings down.
It's likely that now and again you'll need to go into debt to cover one-off expenses. So what is the wisest option? Christine looks at the individual pros and cons of credit cards, loans and overdrafts.
