added the outlook for the next three months was positive, with the service sector expected to boost GDP. The CBI based its findings on a survey of 622 manufacturing, retail and service businesses. It found the slowdown in output growth was largely due to the retail, business and consumer and professional services sectors.

Although growth has slowed from record levels last month, it remains strong, and firms are optimistic it will pick up again in the next quarter. As this year progresses, we expect further increases in business and consumer confidence. Productivity and earnings should also start to recover.

However, global developments continue to pose a risk to UK growth, not least the risk of renewed problems in the Eurozone. Meanwhile, a survey of 8,737 small businesses carried out at the end of last year has indicated that Britain's small businesses are feeling increasingly confident. Two-thirds of the firms polled by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said they were planning to expand in the next 12 months.

FSB members aged 35 or under also reported increased profits, with 43% saying they had seen growth in 2013.

So what does this mean to us the consumer the man on the street, we keep hearing retail sales are great and increasing and we have a great economy. The data releases mean nothing to the normal person on the street as increasing costs across all variants mean less diposable income. The banks are sitting on funds and do not want to lend unless you fit sertain criterias. Even getting a bank account has become a stressful process and more like an interogation. We do not undertake credit checks and are trying to simplyfy the process. We created MoneyMona to bring services to everyone and as we have said previously we will be brining new products to the market. www.moneymona.com wants to start a "e-volution" in relation to how we manage our finances. Mainstream sources see rigid and unflexible in both processes and delivery.

twitter @moneymona