Q&A: UK credit rating downgrade

Moody's credit rating agency rates countries on their ability to pay back loans

The UK has lost its triple-A credit rating for the first time since the 1970s. Moody's, one of the three biggest credit rating agencies in the world, has downgraded its assessment of the outlook for the UK economy.

Its more negative view of how long it will take to recover from the downturn will increase pressure on Chancellor George Osborne just weeks before the Budget. But what does this downgrade mean - and does it matter?

What is a credit rating?

Why has the UK lost its AAA rating?

Does the downgrade matter?

What does it mean for the government?

So will the government now change its economic policy?