British consumers increased their borrowing at the slowest pace in more than a year-and-a-half in May and banks offered fewer mortgages, data from the country’s banking industry showed yesterday, adding to signs of a slowdown in the economy.

Consumer borrowing eased back last month as inflation's upward march forced UK shoppers to rein in their spending, according to new figures.

London: British consumers are likely to get another chance to file class-action lawsuits against banks after a clause allowing such cases was dropped from legislation written to respond to the financial crisis.

Bank margins on financial products have risen amid financial uncertainty, a Stormont committee heard today.

Mortgage lender Northern Rock has called on emergency funding from the Bank of England to help it through the credit market crisis, it has emerged.