Inflation

People are significantly limiting their retirement income by putting off pension planning until their early 30s, according to Friends Life.

The UK's main inflation rate has fallen to 2.2% in September from 2.5% in August, dropping to its lowest level for three years.

Investors are being forced to take on more risk as inflation continues to stay above the Bank of England's 2% target, experts said.

The UK's main inflation rate fell back towards the 2% target in August after reversing a surprise jump the previous month.

The number of flexible drawdown investors could rise in 2013 when the top rate of tax is cut to 45%.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation climbed to 2.6% last month, from 2.4% in June.

Better-than-expected German and French GDP figures have raised investor hopes that Europe's second largest economy will ease eurozone pain.

China's inflation level fell to a 30-month low of 1.8% in July, continuing to tumble as the global slowdown takes hold.

Bank of England (BoE) governor Mervyn King has warned against a further cut in interest rates, arguing it would damage the banking sector and may be "counterproductive".

The Bank of England (BoE) is set to cut economic growth forecasts to almost 0% for this year, amid a deepening double dip recession.