Weekly roundup of the news headlines affecting your finances – 14th January 2011

1 min Read Published: 14 Jan 2011

 We've trawled the news for you and highlighted the headlines that could affect your finances. Click on a headline to be taken to the full story.

£50 to vulnerable customers

British Gas has announced that it will pay out £50 to around 340,000 customers on its Essentials social tariff, to help them pay for their winter energy bills.

E.On raises its prices

Customers of energy company E.On will see a 9% increase in electricity prices and a 3% rise in gas prices from 4th February.

450,000 more caught in tax error fiasco

A further 450,000 workers will recieve demands for unpaid income tax from HM Revenue & Customs as the PAYE error fiasco deepens.

UK interest rates remain at 0.5%

The Bank of England has held its interest rates at 0.5% and decided not to pump more money into the financial system.

Quarter of a million pensioners to have tax bills written off

A quarter of a million pensioners will have their tax bills written off, the taxman has announced.

Jobs market 'may be recovering'

The jobs market may be recovering, according to the latest report from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

Where next for oil? Analysts give their predictions

Oil once again threatens to break the $100 barrier - we ask a few analysts if it will make it there, and what lies in store for the future.

UK is not yet ready for demise of finance

The City is responsible for rather more than 20pc of tax revenues - the UK economy would be in a state of ruin without it.

World moves closer to food price shock

The world has moved a step closer to a food price shock after the US cut stock forecasts for key crops, sending corn and soyabean prices to the highest level in 30 months.

Dow hits highest level since 2008

Stock markets in America closed at their highest levels for more than two years, led by banking stocks.

PM hints VAT rise permanent but not 50p tax rate

Prime Minister David Cameron has hinted the rise in VAT from 17.5% to 20% will be permanent but he hopes other measures to tackle the budget deficit such as the 50p tax rate for top earners would eventually be scrapped.

Five things you must do before applying for credit

Before you apply for any form of credit in 2011, make sure you follow these five tips - otherwise you could end up with an uncompetitive deal, without the credit you need, or might even negatively affect your credit rating.

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