Interest rates remain at 0.5% in the UK, but for how much longer as record monthly leaps in food and transport costs raised the consumer prices index (CPI) to 3.7% in December 2010, (up from 3.3% in November), according to the Office for National Statistics. Continued high level rises in food and fuel prices could send the inflation rate to 5% by the autumn, economists warned.

There is some suggestion that interest rates will have to rise to mitigate inflationary pressures however, pushing up interest rates may be a welcome relief for net savers but it is likely to have a greater adverse impact on those with mortgages and other borrowings.

The housing market is already falling back from the small gains during the last twelve months and, with an increasing level of job losses in 2011 possible, (currently at just under 2.5 million or 7.9%), any consumer confidence could be wiped out and the UK could slip into another economic downturn or consistent low growth period for the foreseeable future.