Inflation

Rising oil and commodities prices spurred on by loose fiscal and monetary policy coupled with Chinese output growth has created a "positive demand shock" that will lead to further interest rate increases, says Legal & General.

US interest rates are likely to go up by 0.25% when the Federal Open Market Committee - the equivalent of the UK's Monetary Policy Committee - next meets on 29 and 30 June, predicts Axa Investment Managers.

Private sector wage inflation is being led by big gains in remuneration at senior management level, according to figures published by Incomes Data Service, which measures salary agreements on a monthly basis.

Saving enough money to put down a 5% deposit as a first time buyer now takes on average a whole 12 months longer than it did a decade ago, or nearly 4 years research by National Savings & Investments suggests.

Interest rates are more than likely to rise next week after the Bank of England published new figures showing Britons retain an undiminished appetite for borrowing.

ONE OF THE executives at the centre of the Equitable Life scandal appears to have struck a deal with the FSA and escaped a lifetime ban from the City, suggests this morning's Daily Telegraph .

The Pensions Policy Institute says research into commonly available equity release schemes shows consumers should not bank on their homes to bail them out of poverty in retirement because of the poor rates of return offered.

April inflation figures just published by the Office for National Statistics show rising oil prices have substantially impacted on prices in the UK.

New figures on the housing market from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister suggest annualised house price inflation fell sharply in March compared with the previous month.

Nationwide has issued a warning to borrowers not to overstretch in light of its latest house price index report, which shows the average house price to earning multiple is now 5.5x.