Stamp-duty announcement fails to boost first-time buyer outlook

The latest Rightmove Consumer Confidence Survey reveals:

"The proportion of first-time buyers expecting to enter the market over the next 12 months is at a virtual standstill compared with last quarter..."

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UK inflation rate rises to 3.4%

In the year to March:

"The consumer prices index (CPI) rose by 3.4 per cent, up from 3.0 per cent in February. Over the same period, the retail prices index (RPI) rose by 4.4 per cent, up from 3.7 per cent in February..."

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Call to clean up cash ISA market

Consumer Focus is today submitting a super-complaint to the OFT about the £158 billion cash ISA market:

"The consumer champion estimates that 15 million cash ISA holders could be losing out in interest worth up to £3 billion a year because of the way the market operates..."

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Nationwide: Confidence rises to highest level for two years

Results from the latest Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index reveal:

"Consumer confidence increased by six points to 80 during February and now stands at its highest level since January 2008..."

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61% of renters can't afford to buy

According to the Rightmove Q1 2010 Consumer Confidence Survey: Rental Forecast:

"61% want to buy a property now but are unable to afford to do so. Although the quarterly increases have been modest, this is the third successive rise in the proportion of renters who consider themselves priced out of the resale sector..."

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