Consumer Lending Rises in August, But No Sign of Recovery Yet, Says FLA

Online, November 1, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The total amount of new consumer finance in August was 3% higher than in August last year, but in the twelve months to August was down by 2%. The slight increase in August is likely to be due to holiday spending.

Lending through store cards, credit cards and in-store instalment credit remained low.

Fiona Hoyle, FLA Head of Consumer Finance, commented:
"The continued weakness in the credit markets shows the importance of ensuring that the Government's proposed new regulatory regime does not make it more difficult for responsible consumers to obtain credit."

The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) is the UK's leading trade association for the consumer credit, motor finance and asset finance sectors, and the largest organisation of its type in Europe.

The FLA was formed in 1992 when the Equipment Leasing Association and the Finance Houses Association merged.

Our members are banks, subsidiaries of banks and building societies, the finance arms of leading retailers and manufacturing companies and a range of independent firms.

The facilities our members provide account for a third of the UK's unsecured lending and half of all car purchases. Options include finance leasing, operating leasing, hire purchase, conditional sale, personal contract purchase plans, personal lease plans, secured and unsecured personal loans, credit cards and store card facilities.

The FLA's understanding of industry issues means we can communicate on behalf of our members at the heart of government. Our dialogue with policy makers and the regulators helps to shape policy and regulation across the wide range of industry issues. We actively lobby decision-makers both at home and in Europe in order to create the right regulatory environment for businesses to thrive.

Vision, Mission and Strategic Objectives

The FLA's vision is to be the acknowledged and trusted representative body for the business and consumer finance industries. Our mission is to represent our members' interests to government, regulators, the European institutions, the media and the general public so as to improve the working environment in which our members do business.