Money News
Latest mortgage lending datafrom the BBA (British Bankers Association) shows November's increase of £6.664 billion (in seasonally adjusted net lending) has raised the annualised rate of growth to 14%.
Compared to the same month a year earlier, November's loan approvals for house purchase were 9% higher by number and 23% higher by value. Remortgaging approvals were 7% higher by number and 20% higher by value; whilst approvals for equity withdrawal were 3% higher by number and 14% higher by value.
Meanwhile, new borrowing on credit cards totalled £7.268 billion in November; 3% lower than November 2005. With repayments exceeding spending and after seasonal adjustment, net lending increased by £66 million.
Elsewhere, new lending on personal loans and overdrafts in November was lower than in October and after seasonal adjustment, net lending fell by £87 million compared with a recent monthly average of +£395 million. The annualised rate of total consumer credit growth is well down on this time last year and stands at a little over 2% p.a.
David Dooks, BBA director of statistics, said: "The contrast between the annual growth rate of net mortgage lending, at 14% and consumer credit, at 2%, is noteworthy.
"In the mortgage market, the high number of loans approved in November, which is not usually a strong month, suggests that the trend in mortgage lending will continue to be robust over the next few months.
"Monthly spending on credit cards and the value of new personal loans taken out have been generally lower in 2006 than in the previous couple of years, while repayment levels have been maintained, leading to this year's picture of subdued borrowing."
29 December 2006 © Moneyextra.com
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