After the shock rise in inflation this week, there is more bad news for savers as the number of savings accounts which actually beat inflation has fallen.
The consumer prices index (CPI), which is the official measure of inflation, rose from 2.4% to 2.6% during July - the first time it's risen since March.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the rise is due to a hike in air fares and the cost of clothing and footwear.
It was also heightened because many shops launched their summer sales earlier than usual in the year, so there was not the usual boost in July from these.
The Retail Prices Index (RPI), which includes mortgage interest payments, also increased, to 3.2% from 2.8% in June.
How are our savings affected?
As inflation edges upwards the number of savings accounts which beat this rate has also declined.This is important as if your savings account pays a rate below that of inflation, your money is losing value.
Although the situation is not as dire as earlier in the year, a basic-rate taxpayer paying 20% now needs to find an account paying at least 3.25% while for a higher-rate taxpayer this rises to 4.30%.
To show how our savings have been affected by inflation, £10,000 invested five years ago would now only be worth £9,243, when interest and tax at 20% are taken into account, according to Moneyfacts.
What savings accounts can we choose from?
[SPOTLIGHT]Although there are 1,092 savings accounts across the market, only 227 of these negate the impact of tax and inflation for a basic-rate taxpayer and there’s only two to choose from for those paying 40% tax.
This is 30 less than a month ago and of these accounts, there is not a single no-notice account. Three are notice accounts, 96 are fixed rate savings accounts and 128 are ISAs.
For those taxpayers at 40% the only two accounts around which negate inflation come from the Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank and pay 4.39% on a minimum deposit of £1,000. But these are both five-year accounts so you have no access to your cash for the whole period.
What other options are there?
For those savers who aren’t happy locking up their cash over the long-term, a regular saver account is another option. Both HSBC and First Direct offer these paying 8%, but you need to be a customer first and you can only put a set amount away each month.
Keeping an eye on the market and comparing savings accounts is the best way to make sure you get the most competitive rate and the right type of deal for your circumstances. You can also find more advice in our how to beat inflation guide.
Top savings accounts to beat inflation
|
Account |
Term |
Rate |
Minimum Deposit |
Transfers allowed? (For ISAs) |
|
Five-year bond |
4.39% |
£2,000 |
n/a |
|
|
Five-year bond |
4.39% |
£2,000 |
n/a |
|
|
Five-year bond |
4.06% |
£1,000 |
n/a |
|
|
Five-year fixed rate ISA |
4.05% |
£500 |
Yes |
|
|
Five-year fixed rate ISA |
4.00% |
£5,100 |
Yes |
|
|
Five-year fixed rate ISA |
4.00% |
£500 |
Yes |
|
|
60-day notice accounts |
3.35% |
£1,000 |
n/a |
|
|
Shawbrook Bank |
120-day notice account |
3.30% |
£1,000 |
n/a |
|
60-day notice ISA
|
3.25% |
£1 |
No |
|
|
60-day notice ISA |
3.16% |
£1,000 |
Yes |
More on savings:
The best instant access savings accounts with no bonus