New figures show 31% increase in loan applications, as economists look for growth in consumer confidence

Published On : 06/02/2018

• Hitachi Personal Finance has reported a 31% increase in the number of motoring, leisure and home improvement loans between 2015/16 and 2017/18
• Number of loan applications in motoring have increased by 94% and average loan amount by over 8% in the same period
• New analysis of ONS data shows that household expenditure is currently at its highest in a decade
• The nation hasn’t been splashing the cash in every department however, with education (-61%) and alcoholic drinks and tobacco (-30%) seeing a significant drop in expenditure

New figures from personal loan provider, Hitachi Personal Finance, have revealed a significant increase in the number of loan applications in motoring, home improvements and leisure over the previous three years.

The lending data shows an increase of 94% in motoring loan applications and 4% in home improvements. Average loan amounts have also seen an increase across the board:

1. Motoring: +8.67%
2. Leisure: +7.02%
3. Home improvements: +1.78%

The insight comes from Hitachi Personal Finance’s new ‘History of Household Expenditure’ analysis, which looks at ONS data from the previous ten years to identify trends in individual and household expenditure, versus income.

The data shows that at the end of 2017, household expenditure was 3.9% higher than the previous year, meaning British residents had gone from spending £533 per week in 2016, to £554 per week in 2017 on their everyday needs, from rent and bills, to food and clothing [1]. This is the biggest increase in the cost of household expenditure in ten years.

Analysis also showed that the individual average weekly expenditure in 2017 was 3.4% higher than 2016’s figures (£226.20 a week compared to £233.80), a difference of £7.60. Again, this is the biggest increase in the past decade.

The UK’s average weekly household expenditure has continually increased since 2014 and has seen a 1.4% overall increase in the last ten years, from spending £230.50 in 2007, to £233.80 in 2017.

However, Hitachi Personal Finance also revealed that average weekly income has remained stagnant, or even decreased, every month since December 2016. What’s more, the average weekly income in March 2008 was at £503, with new figures released this month showing a 2.8% drop to £489 per week.

The categories that have seen the largest increase in expenditure over the previous decade are clothing and footwear, increasing by 27% from £19.80 – £25.10, along with recreation and culture, which has seen a 22% increase from £60.20 – £73.50 per week.

However, the nation hasn’t been splashing the cash in every department, with education (-61%) and alcoholic drinks and tobacco (-30%) seeing a significant drop in expenditure.

The top five growth areas for household expenditure since 2007 are:

1. Clothing and footwear – 27% increase
2. Recreation and culture – 22% increase
3. Communication – 18% increase
4. Household Goods and Services –  8% increase
5. Miscellaneous goods and services (personal care and products, accessories, childcare products and services) – 2% increase

Vincent Reboul, Managing Director at Hitachi Personal Finance, commented: “We wanted to carry out this analysis to get a holistic view of what consumer spending looks like across the UK, compared to income, and how this has changed over the previous decade. We’ve published the full findings of the report on our website, which uses ONS insight alongside our own data, so that people can see where the main areas of growth are in consumer spending, along with advice on how to cut spending in these categories.

“Naturally we expect to see growth in expenditure as costs rise, however our insight shows us that it is the leisure and motoring markets that are driving the biggest growth, with clothing and footwear, communication, and recreation and culture seeing the most significant growth since 2007. This points towards consumer confidence despite the low levels of income growth. With that said, it will be interesting to see how income levels in the coming months weigh up against expenditure, as we would hope to see the disparity between the two lessen in time.”

Wanda Rich

Wanda Rich has been the Editor-in-Chief of Global Banking & Finance Review since 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s content and direction. Under her leadership, the magazine has expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source of information and analysis across various financial sectors. She is known for conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders and oversees the Global Banking & Finance Awards, which recognize innovation and leadership in finance. In addition to Global Banking & Finance Review, Wanda also serves as editor for numerous other platforms, including Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.