Bridget OConnell

Years of rising growth in unsecured lending to British households has come to a sharp halt after lenders reacted to warnings from the Bank.

Lender reports prices down 3.2% between January and March compared with previous quarter.

Internet shopping and weak pound bite as consumer confidence and wages fall.

Sector is lacking in confidence and bad weather can;t be blamed for all of the downturn, say experts.

McCarthy & Stone complained yesterday that it had been “caught in the crossfire” of government attempts to crack down on companies cashing in at their tenants’ expense.

The latest RICS survey was described “the most downbeat assessment of the housing market for five years.

The number of purpose-built rental homes complete, under construction or in planning has increased by 30% in the past year.

Up to 2,000 people could lose their jobs at Shop Direct after the online retailer said that it would close three warehouses in Greater Manchester.

Takeover by French rival would scupper union of two of UK’s biggest retail landlords.