Yuppies struggle in middle age

THEY were the generation with "loadsa money" - dining out in swanky restaurants and splashing their cash on the latest gadgets and biggest Filofaxes.

But now the high-shined shoe is on the other foot for the former 1980s yuppies - who are struggling to live within their means in middle age.

Almost half of the Young Urban Professionals of 20 years ago are finding it tough financially, according to a survey carried out by YouGov on behalf of the Liverpool Victoria friendly society.

And seven out of ten former Yuppies, now aged between 45 and 55, say they should have saved more earlier in their career. Just 15 per cent have managed to accrue assets, including their home, worth more than £500,000, while 46 per cent have wealth of less than £250,000.

Nigel Snell, communications director at Liverpool Victoria, said: "Despite the champagne lifestyle and optimism of the time, our research reveals that many former high flyers have ended up no better off than the average mid-life family. They are just as worried about meeting the monthly bills, the cost of bringing up their kids and how they will fund their old age."

KILLER QUOTE

WE DON'T have free banking at the moment. At the moment, consumers pay for banking through surprises and through stealth, they don't see what they pay and very often they pay when an unexpected event happens like an unauthorised unexpected overdraft."

John Fingleton, head of the Office of Fair Trading

GOOD DAY

InterContinental

ONLINE travel agency Expedia and InterContinental Hotels Group, the world's largest hotelier, have entered a deal putting its rooms on Expedia sites globally. It covers more than 3,700 hotels, across all IHG brands, including Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn.

BAD DAY

Spanish economy

SPAIN'S current account deficit rose 4.6 per cent year-on-year in August to 6.73 billion (£4.82bn), data yesterday revealed. Spain's current account deficit is running at around 9 per cent of GDP and is currently the world's second-largest behind the US.

FACT OF THE DAY: $600

THE monthly payment, equivalent to about £293, needed to lease one of Honda's new hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars.

The car-maker is offering limited numbers of its environmentally-friendly FCX Clarity model to US drivers on a three-year leasing deal.

The low-slung saloon was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Honda would not say how many vehicles will be leased.