"After what's happened with Northern Rock, consumer confidence is at an all-time low, " said Martin Lewis, from consumer website Moneysavingexpert.com.

BBC: RELATED BBC SITES

"The economy still faces powerful contractionary forces in the shape of widespread recession abroad, and at home falling house prices and stock markets, blunted monetary policy as banks constrain lending and rock-bottom business and consumer confidence, " says Andrew Smith, chief economist at KPMG.

BBC: Economic slowdown hits borrowing

It's a dominant consumer products franchise with a history of steady growth and rock-solid financial strength.

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