Households' pessimism about finances hits six month high as rate rise fears bite

Fears of an early rise in interest rates are behind the decline financial confidence, according to the Markit Household Finance Index, the Daily Mail reports. The index, which measures households' perception of their current and future financial situation, fell to 42.1 in July from 42.6 in June, the lowest in six months - a reading below 50 indicates pessimism. > Read: Jupiter duo warn of ‘disruptive events' in next 12 months < British households said this was the worst time to make a major purchase than at any time since the beginning of the year, according to financial data firm M...