Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Consumer spending reached a 13-month high in August, driven by a resurgence in entertainment and travel, according to analysis by Barclays. Card spending grew by 2.1 % year-on-year in August, building on July’s 2.0 % increase, but remaining below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.1 %. Both essential and non-essential spending increased 2.1 %,…
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Latest Bank of England data shows mortgage approvals fell to 56,100 in July, down from 58,215 in June and below the six-month average of 60,800, as higher borrowing costs weighed on housing demand. The figure was below the average of around 60,800 over the previous six months. Approvals for remortgaging increased to 34,500 from 34,100,…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business in June 2026 was 6% higher than in the same month in 2025. In the first half of 2026, new business in this market was 5% higher than in the same period in 2025. The credit card and personal…
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Parents are taking different approaches to managing back-to-school costs, with 22% planning to use a credit card, 16% of parents planning to use Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) to cover back-to-school costs, and 19% saying they have cut back on other spending to afford the return to school, new research from Compare the Market has…
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New research from Compare the Market suggests that fear of being turned down for credit is preventing millions of people from applying for financial products altogether, as new Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) affordability checks are introduced across the UK. From 15th July 2026, BNPL providers will be required to carry out affordability and creditworthiness…
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While scrolling online at bedtime has become a nightly routine for many, according to new research from MoneySuperMarket. The research shows that late-night browsing can have costly consequences, with one in five (22%) spending more than £200 in a single late-night shopping session. The research found that bedtime browsing is taking a toll on budgets,…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business in May 2026 was at a similar level to May 2025. In the first five months of 2026, new business in this market was 4% higher than in the same period in 2025. The credit card and personal loans…
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New research from Compare the Market suggests that fear of being turned down for credit is preventing millions of people from applying for financial products altogether, as new Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) affordability checks are introduced across the UK. BNPL providers will be required to carry out affordability and creditworthiness checks before approving credit,…
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Latest data from the Bank of England has shown that mortgage approvals fell sharply in May 2026, reaching their lowest level in two and a half years. The data also showed a 14.9% decline, with approvals dropping to 56,205 from 66,034 in April. Net borrowing of consumer credit by individuals remained largely unchanged when compared…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew by 3% in April 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. In the first four months of 2026, new business in this market was 5% higher than in the same period in 2025. The credit card and…
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New data from Updraft has suggested that the average person in the UK has £1,400 in credit card debt in 2026, and will pay £342 on interest this year alone – yet 82% haven’t consolidated their debt. The new figures, based on an analysis of Bank of England and ONS data, show that the average…
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Latest data from UK Finance has shown that 48.% of credit card balances incurred interest in March 2026 compared to 48.6 per cent in March 2025. Credit card transactions increased year-on-year by 8.6%, and the total spend rose to £23.8 billion. There were 419 million credit card transactions in March, 8.6 per cent more than…
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Brits are projected to splash out an estimated £6.6 billion on spontaneous spending while on holiday abroad this year as they look to make the most of their overseas breaks, research from savings app Spring has revealed. A survey of 2,000 Brits found that 79% of holidaymakers admit to spending extra on spontaneous purchases while…
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