We're right in the middle of financial results season, the time where the number crunchers of the UK banking industry come out of their counting houses and tell the stock market how much money they've made.

In recent years, these articles have followed a familiar pattern: Bank X announces profits of a figure that only quantum mathematicians understand, city analysts rejoice as profits beat expectations, everyone goes home happy.

So far, so 2006.  But in the wake of the US subprime crisis, the ongoing drought in interbank lending and the realities of an economic slowdown, results this week look very different. So far HBoS and Lloyds TSB have announced a 70% fall in profits, HSBC has seen a 28% drop and Alliance & Leicester swallowed a massive 99% fall to pave the way for its acquisition by Santander. Northern Rock eschewed profits entirely and posted a £585m loss. The banks are clearly jumpy, and the media (to judge by recent headlines) has followed suit. So where does this leave the ordinary punter?

Metrica's ConsumerPulse data provides some interesting insight on public confidence in their finances.

Whilst the banks are having a tough time of it, there are some winners in the current financial climate. An excellent article on bbc.co.uk today shows that "value providers" like Aldi and Lidl are enjoying increased sales as people tighten their belts. 

Metrica's ConsumerPulse survey runs every six months and, with a new version about to launch (and rebranded UKPulse), it will be interesting to see if consumer attitudes change as the economic slowdown continues.  Watch this space!