ITV News Index

 ComRes interviewed 2,043 British adults, including 606 homeowners with a mortgage, online between 31^st January and 2^nd February 2014, about interest rates and the recent flooding in Somerset.

Date Published: 06 Feb 2014

Categories: Economy | Financial Services | Public and communities | UK

Description

 

COMRES / ITV NEWS INDEX RESULTS: INTEREST RATE RISE WOULD LEAVE A QUARTER OF MORTGAGE HOLDERS IN “SERIOUS FINANCIAL TROUBLE”

 

• A quarter (26%) say that they would be in “serious financial trouble” if there were a rise in rates, although one third (35%) say that it would have little effect on their finances.
•  More than half of homeowners with mortgages (57%) say that they are worried about a rise in interest rates.
• Two in five mortgage holders (39%) say that a rise in interest rates would require them to cut back drastically on other areas of spending to keep up with their mortgage repayments.
• However, perhaps most worrying is that a one third of homeowners with a mortgage (33%) say that they do not have a good idea of how much the monthly payments on their mortgage would increase if interest rates went up.

 

• Two thirds of the British public (67%) say that the Government does not appear to be in control of the flooding situation in Somerset.
• Although 71% say that it is a good use of army resources, a majority (58%) think that sending the armed forces to Somerset is too little too late to be of much help to residents already affected by the flooding.

 

• Following on from last week’s strong GDP figures, trust in the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, to see the country through the current economic situation hits a record high (29%) in the ComRes / ITV News Index.
• Meanwhile, Nick Clegg is less trusted than ever to see Britain through the current economic situation, the 12% who trust him on the issue is the lowest ever in the ComRes / ITV News Index.

 

ComRes interviewed 2,043 British adults, including 606 homeowners with a mortgage, online between 31^st January and 2^nd February 2014. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all GB adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.