Affordability gap locks out 1.5m potential homeowners

23rd January 2026 Consumer Lending | #home ownership

The gap between what aspiring homeowners can realistically afford and the actual cost of purchasing a home has widened significantly in recent years, according to the latest research by the Home Builders Federation (HBF). As a result, despite strong demand for housing, millions are unable to turn that demand into a purchase, with young people…

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16m impacted by adverse credit

Research by Pepper Money has found that more than 16 million people have now experienced adverse credit, showing that rising living costs and financial pressures are driving a sharp increase in credit struggles across the UK, the highest figure since the study began nine years ago. The data showed that adverse credit is now increasingly common…

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Consumer finance new business grew by 6% in October 2025

12th December 2025 Consumer Lending | #consumer credit

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew in October 2025 by 6% compared with the same month in 2024.  In the ten months to October 2025, new business in this market was 5% higher than in the same period in 2024. The credit card and…

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Insurance customers turning to monthly credit

26th November 2025 Consumer Lending | #insurance

Paying for insurance with credit is continuing to gain popularity with customers valuing the ability to pay insurance bills monthly, according to new research by Premium Credit. Premium Credit’s Insurance Index found 28% of adults say they are more accepting of using credit to pay for insurance cover than they were a year ago confirming…

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Consumer finance grew by 2% in August

15th October 2025 Consumer Lending | #consumer credit

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew in August 2025 by 2% compared with the same month in 2024.  In the eight months to August 2025, new business in this market was 4% higher than in the same period in 2024. The credit card and…

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94% don’t realise former flatmates could be affecting their credit score

1st October 2025 Consumer Lending | #credit

New research from MoneySuperMarket warned that former flatmate’s finances could be pulling down their credit score. Despite 79% of people having lived with a flatmate, 94% don’t realise that joint financial products – like shared bank accounts or bills –  can directly link their credit score to a housemate’s. Worryingly, only 8% of those surveyed…

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Consumer finance new business grew by 4% in July

9th September 2025 Consumer Lending | #consumer credit

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew in July 2025 by 4% compared with the same month in 2024. In the seven months to July 2025, new business in this market was 5% higher than in the same period in 2024. The credit card and…

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Consumer finance grows by 11%

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew in June 2025 by 11% compared with the same month in 2024.  In the first half of 2025, new business in this market was 5% higher than in the same period in 2024. The credit card and personal…

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FCA calls for an improvement to digital loan processes 

1st August 2025 Consumer Lending | #digital loans

Lenders’ online and in-app application processes can help prospective borrowers understand what they’re signing up for, a review by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found. However, improvements could be made to these digital processes so that consumers can make informed decisions about their finances.   The FCA’s review is part of its strategic focus…

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Consumer credit rose to £1.4bn in May

Latest Bank of England data has shown that net borrowing of consumer credit by individuals rose to £1.4 billion, from £0.9 billion in the previous month. et borrowing through other forms of consumer credit remained broadly unchanged at £0.7 billion over the same period. Commenting on the date, Richard Pinch, Senior Director of Risk at…

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People are struggling to understand how credit works

23rd July 2025 Consumer Lending | #credit

A new survey from the UK’s leading credit-building business, Loqbox, has revealed that people in the UK are struggling to understand how credit works and what it means for their everyday lives. At a time when the average credit score in the UK is 644 on the Equifax scale and an estimated one in ten…

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Consumer credit grew by £1.1bn in April

Latest Bank of England data has shown that net borrowing of consumer credit was £1.6 billion in April, up from £1.1 billion in the previous month. Within this, net borrowing through credit cards increased to £0.8 billion in April, from £0.4 billion in March. Net borrowing through other forms of consumer credit increased slightly to £0.8…

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Mortgage approvals fall as lending rises to £4.2bn

Latest Bank of England data has found that the number of mortgage approvals fell to 66,200 in January, a decrease of around 300 from December. However, net mortgage lending rose by 27% to £4.2 billion – the highest since September 2022. The mortgage market remained busy in January, largely due to first-time buyers squeezing deals…

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