Mortgage lending cools off - 2004-02-19
The Council of Mortgage Lenders revealed total lending was 10% lower than it had been during December, at £21.5 billion.

But it added that the fall was driven entirely by a drop in lending for people buying a new home, while remortgaging remained relatively strong.
Read the full story at UTV Internet

Rate of bankruptcies, foreclosures surges - 2004-02-19
Two major indicators of economic duress have touched record highs in this area, and an expert says factors ranging from overseas manufacturing competition to easy credit are feeding the bad news.

And in Crawford the number of properties sold due to delinquent mortgage payments hit a record high in 2003 of 161 - up from 149 in 2002.
Read the full story at Meadville Tribune