"Predictable outcome" products proposed to help restore trust in UK financial services

The FSCP has called for the introduction of a range of straightforward "predictable outcome" products to reverse the loss of consumer trust experienced in the financial services sector. Changes to the advisory model through the introduction of the RDR and consumer demand for transparency and simplicity give strong weight to this proposal.

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'A-day' will widen the gap between rich and poor pensioners

Britain's pension system is about to undergo its most radical overhaul of the past 50 years. From April 6, 2006 - 'A-Day' - the current eight sets of pension taxation rules will be replaced by one. It is widely held that the simplified system will be attractive to those with some disposable income or who wish to make retirement provision but were deterred by the complexities of the former system.

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'Experimental' Brits splash the cash on premium

The average Brit is more likely than ever to load their trolley full of premium products. This is reflected by the growth of the specialty products such as hand-made, origin specific food, drink and personal care products. The growing taste for luxury is set to become more pronounced as consumers continue to experiment, self-reward and seek out satisfying experiences.

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'Proof-Win' - a means for Gordon Brown to deliver successful public sector IT projects?

The public sector will be one area where incoming UK prime minister Gordon Brown and his team will have their work cut out. The public sector has a culture not conducive to centralized IT project specification and governance, explaining the many projects that have hemorrhaged money and failed to deliver. This must be taken into account if large IT projects' chances of success are to be improved.

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'Treatwise' targeting transparency and trust

The 'treatwise' campaign recently launched in the UK is the first consumer education initiative to be adopted by rival confectioners of the size of Cadbury and Masterfoods, and marks a significant shift in attitude towards public health. Datamonitor Analyst Nick Beevors takes a closer look at why the companies involved believe they are leading the way for the confectionery industry...

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'Universal bank': doubts over government plan

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'Vote with your feet': bank critics urge consumers to move their money

A group of politically active bloggers from the Huffington Post have encouraged American consumers to move their money out of large US banks that accepted taxpayers' money and into struggling community banks. This campaign and others like it highlight the effectiveness of social media in uniting consumers and driving change, and the big banks should not underestimate its power.

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007 comes to physical video's rescue

The British Video Association has revealed that total video sales were up 10.1% in Q1 2013, with physical increasing by 7.2%. This goes against the trend of continued decline, but should only be seen as a minor - and artificially inflated - fillip rather than a recovery, with digital (including streaming) continuing to gain ground at a rapid rate (55.1% over the same quarter a year ago).

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2006 "Build a Better Mousetrap" New Product Innovations of the Year

Non-alcoholic beer for dogs, hot dogs made with salmon, cappuccino-flavored cider and light beer fortified with vitamins were some of the more unusual new product innovations reported in 2006 by Datamonitor's Productscan Online database of new products.

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2007 still set to be a record year for UK mortgage lenders

The financial services industry has seen the most dramatic fallout so far from the US sub-prime mortgage crisis, with events at Northern Rock leading to the first 'run on a bank' in the UK in over 100 years. However, despite these recent events, the UK mortgage market is still expecting to see record lending for the year, while a slowdown has been forecasted for 2008.

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