Latest data from the Equity Release Council has found that the equity release market grew 11% in 2025, with total annual lending increasing from £2.3 billion in 2024 to £2.57 billion in 2025. More than a quarter of advisers responding to the Council’s latest survey (26 per cent) say customers are now using equity release…
Read moreConsumer confidence has been in negative territory for the past ten years, according to a survey produced by GfK. The Consumer Confidence Index was up one point to -16 in January. Three measures were up, and two were down, compared to last month’s announcement. The figures showed a slight increase in sentiment amongst consumers. People…
Read moreThe 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…
Read moreResearch 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…
Read moreNew figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew in November 2025 by 3% compared with the same month in 2024. In the eleven months to November 2025, new business in this market was 5% higher than in the same period in 2024. The credit card and…
Read moreNew research from the Centre for Responsible Credit has highlighted how concerns around credit scores can prevent people in financial difficulty from seeking help and should be viewed as one aspect of financial health, not the entirety. Statistics from the report show that credit score concerns have stopped hard-up borrowers from seeking help: with industry-promoted…
Read moreNew data from Premium Credit has shown that 44% of insurance customers are using credit or are reliant on finance from insurers and premium finance companies. The research showed that nearly six out of ten (57%) consumers use some form of credit to pay for one or more policies they have.. Whilst 44 per cent of…
Read moreLatest Bank of England data showed that net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased to £4.5 billion in November, following a decrease of £1.0 billion to £4.2 billion in October. Mortgage approvals for house purchase fell by 500 to 64,500. By contrast, approvals for remortgaging rose by 3,200 to 36,600 in November. Approvals for…
Read moreNew 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…
Read moreA new report from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) looks to promote the growth of the mutuals sector, which includes customer or worker-owned organisations and credit unions. The FCA’s report offers a series of recommendations aimed at encouraging Credit Unions to expand and to offer more services. Credit Unions serve 2 million members and hold…
Read moreNew data from UK Finance has found that later life loans rose 18.4 per cent with 39,950 loans taken out in Quarter 3 (Q3). The value of lending was £6.5 billion, which was up 24.7 per cent compared with the same quarter a year previously. There were 6,040 new lifetime mortgages advanced in Q3, up…
Read moreA new survey by leading specialist bank Vanquis has revealed that Gen Z shoppers are making nearly double the number of impulse purchases as the average person, fuelled by platforms like TikTok, leaving many with financial regrets. Gen Z spends multiple hours a day on social media, with many relying on it as a source…
Read morePaying 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…
Read more