Virus worry prompts UK households to slash spending: survey

LONDON (Reuters) - British consumers, worried they will lose jobs and income as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, plan to rein in spending on major purchases to the greatest degree since 2012, according to a survey on Monday.The IHS Markit Household Finance Index sank in March to a 10-month low of 42.5 from February's record high of 47.6, pulled down by worsening sentiment around job security and spending.The survey was conducted between March 12 and 17, before finance minister Rishi Sunak..