Consumer finance new business grew by 20% in May 2022

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew by 20% in May 2022 compared with the same month in 2021. In the five months to May 2022, new business was 28% higher than in the same period in 2021.

The credit card and personal loan sectors together reported new business up by 32% in May compared with the same month in 2021, while the retail store and online credit sector reported new business growth of 15% over the same period.

Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Director of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:

“The consumer finance market returned another strong performance in May with further growth across each of the main finance products reflecting the post-pandemic recovery and the higher cost of goods and vehicles faced by consumers.

“Pressures on household incomes from higher inflation, interest rates and taxes are expected to subdue consumer spending in the coming months.  Growth in UK consumer credit is expected to ease, with gross lending forecast to grow by 14% in Q3 2022 and 9% in Q4 2022 compared with the same quarter in 2021.

“As always, customers who are concerned about meeting payments should speak to their lender as soon as possible to find a solution.”

Table 1: New consumer credit lending

 Note to editors:

1. 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.
2. In 2021, FLA members provided £132 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £101 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2021.
3. Consumer motor finance reported in these figures refers to finance obtained through the point of sale.
4. For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.