The current recession is not just about bankers it is about the over spending by everyone in the last 10 years, it is about the last government spending too much (you may have voted them in), it is about the bankers gambling a little too readily, it is about you me and everyone else on this planet thinking the world is a good place and money grows on trees, we were all happy to spend spend spend with little thought for the future but god forbid if this current mess is anything to do with us...its ALL about the bankers and the government and not a chance we did anything ourselves.

I didn't vote for them,as it happens, and I feel justified in being angry in so much as I have been trying to build up a retirement fund over the years. I lost quite a bit by choosing Splits as an investment vehicle.O.K. so that was down to my own cupidity. Having learnt that lesson I vowed to stick to Cash Isa's and it was plodding along growing slowly but "Surely" and then the bank rate goes through the floor ! Leaving aside the investment capital gamblers, no one made Bankers lend good money to bad risks at the domestic level and if this is a good percentage of the problem then it should never have occured. Its that judgement that they get paid for isn't it?

I,m off to check on my Prunus Serula and Betula Jackmania that I planted when we first moved here.<grn>

Twee:

I think that it will stay at the same rate for at least 12 months - before very slowly rising by perhaps 1 to 2 % some time in the future - one thing is certain - we are unlikely to ever see the sort of interest rates that some of us remember (10% +) in our lifetimes !!!

Most analysts that I have heard all seem to think we have another 12-18 months at this rate (give or take) When discussing mortgages I am still leaning towards trackers as I feel they still offer more value over 2 years than fixed rate. I personally don't think we will see significant rate rises for 2 years. We are still pumping money into the economy through quantative easing, we are threatened with a double dip nearly every day, we may even be into ou r10th dip for all I know, the news we get most days is negative and even if its only media hype it is going to affect the mindset of perople and lend to the general gloom of the country.

Similar to Twee, I think through 2012 we will see rises to 1-2% but I do believe that 2013 onwards will see a steady rise back to normal(ish) rates of 4-5%

Yeh,

much as expected ,latest news is everyone is spending their savings to pay for groceries and utilities while those ******* bankers give themselves bonuses and their freinds the politicians fiddle the inflation rate to depress wage claims.

As the song said " wont get fooled again " ------------------- fat chance

WILT

You voted them in, you can hardly complain.

If you don't trust the bankers to look after your money you always have the mattress.

The current recession is not just about bankers it is about the over spending by everyone in the last 10 years, it is about the last government spending too much (you may have voted them in), it is about the bankers gambling a little too readily, it is about you me and everyone else on this planet thinking the world is a good place and money grows on trees, we were all happy to spend spend spend with little thought for the future but god forbid if this current mess is anything to do with us...its ALL about the bankers and the government and not a chance we did anything ourselves.

Like it or not, it is these same people that are now using their savings that have the debts, there are (as usual) precious few people who have so much money that it doesn't worry them but they have most likely lost out on 20%-30% of their comnpany values which could be several million pounds and not just the £5,000 - £10,000 of savings and forgive me but savings are generally put away for a rainy day...well this is a stormy season and the time is possibly right to be spending them

Getting angry will make you feel slightly better but won't achieve anything

I suggest you put your agression to planting a tree and make the world a little greener with a little more oxygen

I think that it will stay at the same rate for at least 12 months - before very slowly rising by perhaps 1 to 2 % some time in the future - one thing is certain - we are unlikely to ever see the sort of interest rates that some of us remember (10% +) in our lifetimes !!!

Yeh,

much as expected ,latest news is everyone is spending their savings to pay for groceries and utilities while those ******* bankers give themselves bonuses and their freinds the politicians fiddle the inflation rate to depress wage claims.

As the song said " wont get fooled again " ------------------- fat chance

WILT

The economy is still way to weak to raise rates, I think we'll just have to put up with low savings and high inflation for a while for the sake of economic stability.

So, still no change: base rate held at 0.5% for the 17th month in a row. When do you think it will move again?

Well, CPI looks to be stabilising at 3% p/a, 1% above their target. It takes about 18 months for an interest rate change to have its full effect on the economy so the rate they set now is based on a forecast of things to come, and many economist think we've got a rocky road ahead so rates are probably at the right level for now (plus, the government has no money to spend to ease the economy so it has to be done completely through interest rates).

I guess you must have very high confidence in the company you work for and its continuity.

If only the same could be said for the rest of the country in this current economic state...let alone if the interest rates were hiked

Is anyone else fed up with the monetary policy commitee's stance on the bank rate?. Everyone who buys anything like a shopping trolley full of food let alone fuel for a vehicle is well aware of the rapidly increasing cost of living ,i.e.inflation, Yet these numb skulls insist on holding down the bank rate and ,by default, crippling returns on savings . Fairy tale economics yet again.

WILT