The widest variation in charges come with debit card charges, according to Andrew Hagger, of consumer website Moneynet.

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Mr Hagger said another possibility was that homeowners who have decided not to move during the housing market slowdown could have been spending on home improvements.

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"Until the base rate starts to increase, there is no prospect of savers seeing any meaningful increases on the paltry interest returns they are currently receiving, " said Andrew Hagger, of Moneynet.

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