| Britons appear to be keen to continue to spend money | | | | 20-somethings claiming they are to delay major |
| in spite of the economic crisis. | | | | spending decisions as a direct result of the recession. |
| Despite the ongoing effects of the financial crisis, new | | | | Steve Reid, retail director of Clydesdale and Yorkshire |
| research shows many people are determined to meet | | | | Banks, comments: "The fact people have pressed on |
| their major life goals. | | | | with plans for big 'life events' such as weddings or |
| Figures from Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks reveal | | | | having a baby, probably suggests good financial |
| 81 per cent of Britons are set to go ahead with major | | | | planning, as these events generally allow for a fairly |
| plans such as getting married, starting a family or | | | | long planning phase. But we see a bigger impact on |
| setting up their own business over the course of this | | | | the more general spending and luxury purchases, |
| year. | | | | where the money is coming from a monthly salary. " |
| The majority of consumers are also prepared to | | | | He adds that by placing money into savings accounts |
| splash out on luxuries, with 60 per cent of respondents | | | | on a regular basis, consumers "can build that nest egg |
| claiming they will go on holiday this year despite the | | | | for any occasion - particularly those smaller events or |
| challenging financial climate. | | | | unplanned occurrences that can be financially painful". |
| On a geographical basis, more than two-thirds of | | | | Such comments follow Nationwide's Consumer |
| those living in Wales and the West Midlands claim their | | | | Confidence Index, which recorded a six-point growth |
| plans for this year will be unaffected by the general | | | | over the course of February to register an overall |
| economic situation. However, around half of residents | | | | score of 80. However, consumers' propensity to use |
| in the south-east claim they will be cutting back when it | | | | credit cards and other products to fund purchases |
| comes to spending money from their UK accounts. | | | | could be affected as the study's spending sub-index |
| Expenditure concerns also appear to be prevalent | | | | fell to 93. |
| among younger people, with 36 per cent of | | | | |