UK Mortgage Lending Jumps in June, Business Lending Plunges

British mortgage lending picked up strongly in June, adding to signs that the housing market is regaining momentum, but a sharp drop in lending to businesses was a reminder that the economic recovery has yet to find a sounder footing.

The value of mortgage lending rose by the largest amount in almost seven years, while there was a renewed rise in mortgage approvals, Bank of England figures on Wednesday showed.

Consumer credit continued to grow strongly, according to the central bank where some policymakers may start to vote for an interest rate hike next week.

But the data also showed a 5.487 billion pound ($8.6 billion) monthly drop in bank lending to non-financial businesses — the biggest decline since records started in May 2011, and compared with a 818 million pound increase in May.

While the lending data is often volatile, the fall could be a concern for policymakers who say business lending is key to the continued resurgence of Britain’s economy.

Finance minister George Osborne said this month that he was giving a new remit to the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee that stressed the importance of banks lending for productive investment.

Reuters

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Craig Erlam

Craig Erlam

Former Senior Market Analyst, UK & EMEA at OANDA
Based in London, Craig Erlam joined OANDA in 2015 as a market analyst. With many years of experience as a financial market analyst and trader, he focuses on both fundamental and technical analysis while producing macroeconomic commentary.

His views have been published in the Financial Times, Reuters, The Telegraph and the International Business Times, and he also appears as a regular guest commentator on the BBC, Bloomberg TV, FOX Business and SKY News.

Craig holds a full membership to the Society of Technical Analysts and is recognised as a Certified Financial Technician by the International Federation of Technical Analysts.