The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) latest high street banking data shows that consumer credit growth was 6.4% in April, compared with 6.1% in the previous month.
Gross mortgage borrowing totalled £13.4 billion in April. This is 10% higher than April 2016, although the BBA has stressed that data from this month was still, to some extent, distorted by deals being brought forward ahead of the 1 April deadline for the increase in stamp duty on second homes. A comparison with last year is therefore less appropriate than usual, the BBA said.
Net mortgage borrowing was 2.4% higher than a year ago.
Eric Leenders, BBA managing director for retail banking said: “As the Spring sunshine picked up in April, so did consumer spending. Annual growth in consumer borrowing from the main high street banks grew due to increased customer use of credit cards. This was also reflected by an uplift in retail sales volumes, particularly among food retailers over the Easter period.
“House purchase approvals were largely in line with last year’s average, though remortgaging approvals have dipped slightly in recent months despite historically low interest rates.
“Business lending in April was fairly flat possibly reflecting the current uncertain climate.”