The consumer credit data represents the value of loans in a specified month.
A high figure may indicate that the economy may be overheating. As living conditions increase, individuals tend to over borrow, which may give rise to concerns regarding a credit bubble.
On the other hand, an increase in the general value of loans may indicate a more active economy, because individuals usually tend to borrow when they are more optimistic and feel confident about their economic future. This may lead to an increase in the level of retail sales, income of producers and the output of the whole economy, which in turn may increase the interest of foreign investors in the domestic currency.
Periodicity of publication
Published every quarter by the Bank of England as part of a report under the name “Trends in Lending”, by the end of the first month after the reported quarter