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Press release

WEDNESDAY IS A WINNER FOR ERNIE

15 March 2004

When it comes to winning Premium Bond prizes, Wednesday was the luckiest day to buy Premium Bonds in 2003/04. The luckiest day in 2002/03 was Thursday with Sunday being the unluckiest in both years.

The league table (below) shows the luckiest days to buy Premium Bonds that have won top Premium Bond prizes between April 2003 and March 2004. Wednesday was twice as lucky as its nearest competitor (Saturday) with a prize value of £15,800 per ten million Premium Bonds bought compared to £7,300 per ten million Bonds bought.

Across the UK, 23 million people own Premium Bonds worth nearly £24 billion, all of which are entered into each monthly draw winning around 770,000 prizes worth over £40 million from £50 to the jackpot £1 million.

Luckiest Days (last year's positions in brackets)

RankingLuckiest Days2003/04 Prize value in £1
(per ten million Bonds bought on the day)
1 (6) Wednesday 15,800
2 (5) Saturday 7,300
3 (3) Friday 6,740
4 (2) Monday 6,490
5 (4) Tuesday 6,430
6 (1) Thursday 6,280
7 (7) Sunday 1,620
[1] Based on the total prize value calculated only on prizes £1,000 and over

Wednesday's luck has vastly improved since last year rising from sixth position to the top of the table this year. Friday maintained its position as the third luckiest day to buy Premium Bonds in order to win a high value prize.

Historically, Wednesday has been the day of wisdom as it was associated with Odin the God of War, Wisdom, Agriculture and Poetry. However, throughout Europe Wednesday was thought to be a very unlucky day whilst the opposite was believed in the USA. ERNIE, the machine that churns out the winning Premium Bond numbers, has made Wednesday lucky again in the UK.

UNLUCKIEST DAYS 2003/04

Wednesday might have been the luckiest day in 2003/04 but it was Thursday in 2002/03, which has dropped to sixth position over the last year. The unluckiest day overall is Sunday, which was ranked last in both 2003/04 and 2002/03.

Gill Cattanach, marketing director at National Savings and Investments comments:

"Wednesday was the luckiest day to buy Premium Bonds that have won high value prizes over the last year knocking Thursday off the top spot, and it goes to prove what a difference a day can make to winners."

"Every one of the 23 million people owning Premium Bonds has an equal chance of winning a prize but you never know who will be the luckiest over the coming year."

Ends

Notes to Editors

  • Calculations were based on the total value of large prizes (£1000 and over) won, over a one year period between April 2003 and March 2004 and April 2002 and March 2003.
  • The monthly jackpot prize is £1 million.
  • Premium Bonds were launched in 1956 - since then, over 107m prizes worth £6.9 billion have been won.
  • Currently 23 million people (over 39% of the population) hold nearly 24 billion Premium Bonds.
  • In 2003 Premium Bond sales reached a record £7.5 billion.
  • Premium Bonds can be bought by post using a brochure, downloading an application form from the internet www.nsandi.com and over Post Office counters. For further information customers can contact NS&I on 0845 964 5000.

Luckiest Days 2002/03

RankingLuckiest Days 2002/03Prize value in £1
(per ten million Bonds bought on the day)
1 Thursday 16,750
2 Monday 13,350
3 Friday 6,260
4 Tuesday 5,610
5 Saturday 5,070
6 Wednesday 4,850
7 Sunday 1,620
[1] Based on the total prize value calculated only on prizes £1,000 and over

Further information on NS&I, including press releases and product information, is available on the website at www.nsandi.com. You can also contact the NS&I Media Team.

Mark Brooks020 7348 9301mark.brooks@nsandi.com
Samantha Bennett:020 7348 9654sam.bennett@nsandi.com
Wendy Franklin020 7348 9449wendy.franklin@nsandi.com
Fax020 7348 9755
Out of hoursAll above numbers go to mobile phones staffed 24 hours

Media team
NS&I has a number of spokespeople available for interviews and our experienced radio team is available via our ISDN line: 020 7602 4522.

The numbers below are for media use only. Customers wishing to contact NS&I can find details here.

Gareth Headon 020 7348 9494
gareth.headon@nsandi.com
Gill Stephens 020 7348 9449
gill.stephens@nsandi.com
Iman Asante 020 7348 9301
iman.asante@nsandi.com
Monica Del-Villar 020 7348 9654
monica.del-villar@nsandi.com

ISDN for interviews

020 7602 4522

Out of hours

All numbers above diverted to staffed mobile phones
 

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