Consumer credit falls in January
Bank of England data shows that consumer borrowing fell at its fastest pace since May 2020 in January. The £2.4bn decline in unsecured lending to consumers was the steepest fall since the £4.5bn recorded in May 2020. January’s total takes the year-on-year fall to 8.9%, the biggest decline since monthly records began. The figures show that British lenders approved almost 99,000 mortgages in January, down from 102,800 in December. British households paid back £2.4bn of borrowing on credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts in the first month of 2021. The total amount outstanding on credit cards and loans shrank to £199.4bn, falling below £200bn for the first time since April 2017. This could mean that consumers have capacity to spend quickly when lockdown finishes wich will be good news for hard pressed motorsport businesses.