UCAS, which matches students with higher education places, said it was a UK-wide trend and was the result of greater financial pressures on young people.

BBC: NI students choose local universities

The Scottish figures follow a UK-wide trend of increased closures.

BBC: Closed shop

McKinsey makes the striking claim that "the ratio of UK household debt to disposable income would not return to its pre-bubble trend for up to a decade" - which implies that as we in the UK look for a return to more normal levels of economic growth, momentum is not going to be provided by consumer spending for perhaps up to 10 years.

BBC: US ahead of UK on road to reducing debts

It all started with Rose Bakery -- the bastion of the UK cafe scene in Paris -- which kicked off the trend for casual, homely fare with a British accent back in 2002, when their first branch opened in the south Pigalle area (46 rue des Martyrs, 9e, 01-42-82-12-80).

BBC: British cafes win favour in Paris

Past growth figures suggested the Scottish economy had ended that long-term trend, and put Scotland around the mid-point of UK performance.

BBC: Making up lost ground

The economics research group said that the UK would return to its trend growth rate of 0.2%-0.3% in the coming months.

BBC: UK economic growth outlook still weak, NIESR says

The federation said the flow of residential approvals during the second quarter of 2011 "resumed its negative trend" in the UK as a whole, after a brief pick-up at the beginning of the year.

BBC: Slump in planning approvals for new Scottish homes

The number of first-time buyers in Scotland rose sharply in the second quarter, bucking the overall UK trend, according to mortgage lenders.

BBC: Sharp rise in Scottish first-time buyers

So, to ensure our customers continue to experience peace of mind, on the UK's biggest and best network for smartphones, Three has decided to buck the trend and give people all-you-can-eat data on The One Plan.

ENGADGET: Three's The One Plan serves up all-you-can-eat data in the UK