Consumer finance new business growth in February

6 April 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 10% in consumer finance new business in February, compared with the same month last year.
Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 10%, compared with February 2017, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 9% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The latest figures reflect the recent general improvement in consumer confidence. Real earnings have begun to grow again as consumer price inflation has slowed, which has contributed to consumers feeling more confident about their own finances and spending.”
Table 1: New consumer credit lending
Feb 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Feb 2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Feb 2018
% change on prev. year
Total FLA consumer finance (£m)
7,193
+10
23,010
+8
97,845
+7
Data extracts:
Retail store and online credit (£m)
626
+9
2,335
+12
9,110
+9
Credit cards & personal loans (£m)
3,865
+10
12,495
+7
48,740
+7
Second charge mortgages (£m)
81
+4
233
+5
1,032
+17
Car finance (£m)
2,333
+13
7,118
+8
34,801
+7
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £96 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Asset finance market provides support to key sectors in February

6 April 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) for deals of up to £20 million fell in February by 1%, compared with the same month last year.
The plant and machinery finance and IT equipment finance sectors reported new business growth in February of 5% and 13% respectively, compared with the same month in 2017. By contrast, new business for commercial vehicles and business equipment fell by 7% and 20% respectively over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“Many asset sectors reported further growth in February despite it being a quieter month overall.
“The asset finance market continued to support key economic sectors with new finance for construction and agricultural equipment up by 13% and 9% respectively, compared with February 2017. The manufacturing sector also benefitted as new finance for production and process equipment was 47% higher over the same period.”
Feb 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Feb
2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Feb
2018
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,006
-6
6,975
+1
31,718
+4
Total excluding high value (£m)
1,952
-1
6,413
-1
29,980
+5
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
491
+5
1,512
+4
6,629
+10
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
479
-7
1,532
-9
7,425
0
IT equipment finance (£m)
169
+13
594
+19
2,380
+5
Business equipment finance (£m)
170
-20
587
-2
2,554
+4
Car finance (£m)
552
+5
1,767
-1
9,517
+5
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
9
-89
72
-58
472
-8
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
948
-3
3,131
-3
14,968
+3
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
450
+10
1,369
+7
5,733
+11
Sales finance (£m)
554
-4
1,913
-1
9,279
+6
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
262
+17
909
+5
3,848
+7
Operating leasing (£m)
390
-10
1,325
-9
6,699
0
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,146
-3
3,514
-1
16,876
+6
Other finance (£m)
165
-34
788
-7
3,228
-8
Note to editors:
In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £32 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Second charge mortgage new business volumes grow in January

21 March 2018
Commenting on the January 2018 new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer and Mortgage Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said:
“The second charge mortgage market reported growth in January, with new business up 8% by value and 13% by volume compared with the same period in 2017.
“The sector is continuing its work in ensuring that the new regulatory regime is fully implemented.”
Table 1: New second charge mortgage lending
Jan 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Jan 2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Jan 2018
% change on prev. year
Value of new business (£m)
76
+8
234
+5
1,029
+16
Number of new agreements (No.)
1,645
+13
5,118
+5
22,130
+12
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £96 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Consumer finance new business up in January

21 March 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 12% in consumer finance new business in January, compared with the same month last year.
Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 12% compared with January 2017, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 13% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The performance of the consumer finance market in January reflects a resilient household sector. Despite the squeeze on real earnings from higher inflation, consumer confidence about the outlook for their own finances and spending has held up. The labour market remains robust, with record levels of employment and a pick-up in earnings growth.”
Table 1: New consumer credit lending
Jan 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Jan 2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Jan 2018
% change on prev. year
Total FLA consumer finance (£m)
8,212
+12
24,256
+6
97,176
+6
Data extracts:
Retail store and online credit (£m)
677
+13
2,802
+14
9,069
+9
Credit cards & personal loans (£m)
4,442
+12
12,897
+5
48,391
+6
Second charge mortgages (£m)
76
+8
234
+5
1,029
+16
Car finance (£m)
2,711
+13
7,471
+6
34,537
+6
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £96 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Asset finance market kicks off 2018 with new business growth

21 March 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) for deals of up to £20 million grew by 4% in January, compared with the same month last year. Including high value deals, new business increased by 3% over the same period.
The plant and machinery finance and business equipment finance sectors each reported new business up in January by 8% compared with the same month in 2017, while new finance for commercial vehicles fell by 4% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The asset finance market made a positive start to 2018 with further solid growth in new finance for plant and machinery and business equipment. In particular, new business for agricultural equipment in January was 21% higher than in the same month in 2017.
“We expect asset finance new business growth in 2018 as a whole to be at a similar rate to 2017.”
Jan 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Jan
2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Jan
2018
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,337
+3
7,523
+3
31,842
+5
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,131
+4
6,926
+2
30,038
+6
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
509
+8
1,520
+4
6,654
+11
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
480
-4
1,748
-4
7,462
0
IT equipment finance (£m)
133
+29
663
+14
2,315
+3
Business equipment finance (£m)
191
+8
633
+5
2,596
+7
Car finance (£m)
608
-2
1,928
-2
9,493
+4
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
28
-14
71
-36
545
+24
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,066
0
3,326
-3
15,047
+3
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
442
+8
1,444
+12
5,690
+11
Sales finance (£m)
622
+10
2,155
+3
9,301
+7
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
246
0
939
-1
3,809
+6
Operating leasing (£m)
425
-2
1,519
-3
6,744
+1
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,166
0
3,763
0
16,907
+6
Other finance (£m)
359
+10
826
+7
3,313
-3
Note to editors:
In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £32 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Second charge mortgage repossessions remain low

10 May
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that the number of second charge mortgage repossessions in Q1 2018 was 46, up from 25 in the first quarter of 2017.
The rate of second charge mortgage repossessions (as a percentage of outstanding agreements) was 0.09% in the twelve months to March 2018.
Commenting on the figures, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer and Mortgage Finance at the FLA, said:
“The increase in second charge mortgage repossessions in the first quarter of 2018 was from a low base. We expect the number of repossessions in this market to remain low in 2018 as a whole.
“As always, any customer worried about making payments should speak to their lender, because the sooner contact is made, the easier it is to find a solution.”
Table 1: The number of actual properties taken into possession by FLA second charge mortgage providers1
Time period
Number of possessions in the quarter
% change on the same quarter in the previous year
Annual total
% change on the previous year
2008 Total
2009 Total
2010 Total
2011 Total
2012 Total
2013 Total
Q1 2014
Q2 2014
Q3 2014
Q4 2014
Q1 2015
Q2 2015
Q3 2015
Q4 2015
Q1 2016
Q2 2016
Q3 2016
Q4 2016
Q1 2017
Q2 2017
Q3 2017
Q4 2017
Q1 2018
128
133
107
79
72
67
56
33
34
40
31
39
25
39
34
38
46
-43.4%
-27.3%
-25.7%
-35.8%
-43.8%
-49.6%
-47.7%
-58.2%
-52.8%
-40.3%
-44.6%
18.2%
-26.5%
-2.5%
9.7%
-2.6%
84.0%
1,612
1,467
864
827
6282
676
447
228
144
136
-9.0%
-41.1%
-4.3%
-24.1%2
7.6%2
-33.9%
-49.0%
-36.8%
-4.9%
Possession proceedings arising from FLA members’ second charge mortgage books, which have led to actual possession by the second mortgage provider.There were changes to the sample in Q1 2012 and Q1 2013 due to changes in FLA membership.Figures for 2017 have been revised since the previous issue.

Consumer finance new business holds steady in March

11 May 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business in March was at a similar level to that reported in March 2017, and grew 6% in Q1 2018 as a whole.
Credit card and personal loan new business together grew in March by 7%, compared with the same month in the previous year, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 4%. The point of sale finance sector reported a fall in new business in March of 6% compared with the same month in 2017.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The latest consumer finance new business figures were in line with recent trends in the wider economy, with household spending likely to have been adversely affected by poor weather conditions. FLA consumer finance providers’ penetration of the UK new consumer credit market held steady in the twelve months to March 2018 at 35.6%.”
Table 1: New consumer credit lending
Mar 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Mar 2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Mar 2018
% change on prev. year
Total FLA consumer finance (£m)
10,381
0
25,786
+6
97,820
+6
Data extracts:
Retail store and online credit (£m)
719
+4
2,022
+8
9,136
+9
Credit cards & personal loans (£m)
4,357
+7
12,664
+10
49,010
+7
Second charge mortgages (£m)
86
-10
244
0
1,023
+15
Car finance (£m)
4,849
-5
9,894
+3
34,522
+4
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £96 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Asset finance new business more than £3.3 billion in March

11 May 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) fell by 5% in March, compared with the same month last year, and by 3% in Q1 2018 overall.
New finance for business equipment grew in March by 13% compared with the same month in 2017. Over the same period, the plant and machinery finance and commercial vehicle finance sectors reported falls in new business of 9% and 2% respectively.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The asset finance market recorded its third highest monthly new business total in March at more than £3.3 billion. However, the latest figures reflect some of the recent slowdown in the UK economy, with new finance for agricultural and construction equipment 1% and 8% lower in March than in the same month in 2017.”
Mar 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Mar
2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Mar
2018
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
3,325
-5
7,668
-3
31,459
+3
Total excluding high value (£m)
3,229
-3
7,316
-1
29,782
+3
Data Extracts:By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
654
-9
1,652
-1
6,561
+7
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
849
-2
1,813
-4
7,412
-1
IT equipment finance (£m)
196
-24
497
-3
2,318
+2
Business equipment finance (£m)
259
+13
622
+1
2,586
+5
Car finance (£m)
1,041
-7
2,200
-3
9,357
+2
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
33
-39
66
-61
448
-18
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,652
+1
3,693
-1
14,940
+1
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
579
-4
1,451
+4
5,720
+8
Sales finance (£m)
998
-10
2,172
-2
9,122
+4
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
406
-1
914
+4
3,843
+5
Operating leasing (£m)
714
-13
1,531
-11
6,534
-3
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,835
+1
4,151
0
16,865
+4
Other finance (£m)
304
-19
824
-14
3,150
-6
Note to editors:
In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £32 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.