The effects of the credit crunch are still having an effect on people's personal finances and the country's economy has not yet returned to its normal state, it has been claimed. Economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research Charles Davies said that both consumers and businesses are being affected by the credit crunch, with growth continuing to slow.



And not only is the credit crunch biting people's finances, continuing inflationary pressures are also having an effect, Mr Davis suggested. Indeed the British Chambers of Commerce recently reported in its Quarterly Economic Survey that there is now a serious risk of recession across the country.

"The situation has still not really completely normalised and what you have seen is the effects of it start to seep through to all different sectors of the economy. Clearly, the financial system is fundamental to the functioning of the market economy and as funds drying up have had an impact on firms, there has also been a very great impact on consumers," said Mr Davis.

He added that this has had an ongoing effect on the housing market and that banks are still reporting weaker results than in the past few years. Indeed there is still a level of uncertainty about banks recapitalising, he added.

But people who are perhaps feeling the effects of the credit crunch may now wish to consider the benefits that a secured loan can bring to payments, as all debts can be consolidated so that monthly outgoings can be paid off in one. Such a move may prove to help minimise the effects of the credit crunch, as outgoings can be kept under control.

Mr Davis noted that the inflationary pressures on the economy are proving to be a "dual hit" on the country's purse strings and are making things "very difficult" for people. A recent study conducted by Nationwide, in partnership with TNS, found that consumers are now less confident than they were about the overall state of the economy, borrowing and loans on the whole.

The research, published in the Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index, found that overall consumer confidence is now down 18 per cent on the level it was at last year. Spending has also fallen, to stand at 54 points in July this year, down from 65 points the same time a year before.

Indeed some 61 per cent of people do in fact believe the current economic situation is bad and some 85 per cent are of the opinion that the situation will get worse over the coming half-year. And opting to take out a loan to help cover any outgoings may be one way to cover costs such as mortgage or debt repayments.

Last month, research from mortgage advisory group mform found that people looking for new mortgage deals are now seeking out longer-term deals. Indeed the organisation found that some 11.5 per cent of people wanted to sign mortgage deals for the duration of their borrowing period and some 13.5 per cent of people wanted deals of longer than five years.