2011

Shops will no longer be able to offer instant inducements to customers to take out expensive store cards, under a voluntary code agreed between banks, the British Retail Consortium and the Government.

Margaret Thatcher has been voted the former Prime Minister best equipped to lead Britain in 2011 by an overwhelming majority in a MoneySavingExpert.com poll.

Mobile phone companies have been urged to do more to stop consumers facing large bills shocks when they download music and search the web on smartphones.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps recently called for lenders to offer 30-year fixed rate mortgages and received a barrage of abuse. Simon Webster, from mortgage broker Facts & Figures, below, says it wasn't all nonsense.

The Government could be about to renege on plans to increase some state benefit payments in line with September's inflation rate.

The Government will sell Northern Rock to Virgin Money, to create a combined bank with four million customers.

MPs kept up the pressure for the return of cheque guarantee cards today by suggesting that the Government could consider stepping in with legislation.

Many high street banks and building societies are offering poor advice and recommending inappropriate investments, an undercover investigation from lobby group Which? concludes today.

The Airmiles reward scheme has closed, to be replaced by the Avios programme tomorrow, which will result in passengers having to pay taxes and charges when redeeming flights.