Weekly roundup of the news headlines affecting your finances – 21st January 2011

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

Tax deadline looms: how to avoid a £100 fine

Over three million taxpayers yet to file their return have just days to avoid a penalty for late submission

Inflation jumps to 3.7% as commodity prices soar

Inflation edged closer towards 4% in December as the rising cost of food and oil products continued to hit the price of goods and services.

Fixed-rate mortgage demand set to soar

Lenders are expecting a surge in demand for fixed-rate mortgages after inflation rose by the fastest rate on record last month.

Fears grow that China is overheating

Concerns about overheating in China mounted after the economy grew faster than expected at the end of last year, and Guangdong province raised its minimum wage for the second time in under a year.

Pensioners to be a further £240 worse off due to benefit cuts and tax rises

Pensioners will be a further £240 a year worse off in light of benefit cuts and the VAT increase.

Postcode lottery for home care

Elderly people are paying significantly different charges for home care depending on where they live, according to new research.

Barclays' £60m compensation bill

Barclays is told to pay millions of pounds in compensation after giving people poor advice about investing their retirement savings.

Cutting corners

How the tax system can cut the cost of a car.

Thames Water starts bill amnesty

Thames Water starts a six-week amnesty asking people who use water but do not pay bills to come forward or face backdated charges.

Oil 'could hit $200 a barrel'

Global oil prices 'could hit $200 a barrel', warns investment guru Jim Rogers.

Regulation for financial advisers

Investment advisers must hold accreditation in order to operate in the UK from the start of 2013, the City watchdog says.

Inflation hurts us all but older people are hit hardest

Virtually every household in the UK has been affected by the rise in inflation, so how can households cope?

Third of UK families have no savings

Insurer Aviva's Family Finances Report reveals a third of families in the UK have no savings, 67% have unsecured debts, while 93% do not feel sufficiently protected.

Unemployment hits record levels in UK

UK unemployment rose by 49,000 to almost 2.5 million in the three months to the end of November, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.

Base Interest Rate And Money Supply On Hold

The base rate of interest has been kept on hold for a 22nd consecutive month by the Bank Of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

Image: healingdream / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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