Cash machines set for record

WITHDRAWALS from cash machines are set to surge to a record £2.3bn in the second half of this month. Link said an increase in its ATM machines and rising awareness that using them is free would contribute to a 43% rise in withdrawals from the record £1.6bn in the same period last year.

A record £350m is expected to be withdrawn on 21 December. Link said the forecast reflected the expected resilience of consumer spending. Deloitte & Touche expects the average spend on Christmas to rise to £568 from £560 last year.