Consumer Finance

Numerous consumers have increased their reliance on credit to enable them to afford higher retail prices in 2023, as the UK economy has continued to be impacted by high inflation and the rising cost of living. As a result, card lending is set to…

2022 and 2023 saw some of the most rapid increases in lending interest rates in US history. During the pandemic, many interest rates approached record lows, leading consumers to refinance debt, and leading to a generally free lending environment. In…

The year 2023 witnessed a decline in the number of consumers obtaining personal consumer credit. As Inflation and the cost of living remained high, consumers relied on cash withdrawals from credit cards when they needed small sums of money. This…

The biggest story in consumer lending in 2023 is the issuing of the new Circular by the State Bank of Vietnam, to promote consumer lending for daily needs. To encourage banks to increase their lending activities, including consumer lending, the State…

The credit market in Argentina remains highly restricted, primarily constrained to personal loans. The funds that banks receive from their clients are predominantly funnelled into a financial instrument called Leliq, which offers a lucrative…

The major talking point of 2023 from a consumer lending point of view has been the increase in interest rates over the year as a result of the RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) attempting to address high inflation rates. Due to higher interest rates,…

Loans became more expensive for consumers in 2023, as a result of the European Central Bank's interest rate policy, with rates rising in response to high inflation in the EU since the energy crisis broke out in 2022 and the war in Ukraine began. The…

Brazilians are well-acquainted with dividing payments into instalments, a practice prevalent in both traditional retail credit (known as "crediário") and credit card payments. The compounding effects of inflation, a challenging job market, and…

Canada's credit landscape in 2023 is showing rises in lending, with more Canadians gaining access to lending products via traditional financial institutions and private lenders. At the same time, as the cost of living bears down on Canadians, thanks…

Chile's economy faces challenges as bank credit declined in 2022, the most negative annual variation in 30 years. The economic slowdown stems from a gradual adjustment to previous macroeconomic imbalances, with range projections of -0.5%-0.25% in…

Demand for consumer lending is set to see a moderate rebound in 2023, as the pandemic has eased, and consumer spending has returned, especially on services and in other discretionary categories. However, growth in consumer lending in China is…

The Colombian economy felt the effects of a slowdown in the first semester of 2023 due to a restrictive monetary policy, compounded by a significant increase in interest rates at the end of 2022. This caused credit card interest rates to rise above…

There is expected to be moderate growth in consumer credit gross lending in 2023, though growth will be significantly lower than the previous year. In terms of housing/mortgages, gross lending is expected to fall. A second year of rising interest…

Consumer credit and lending have experienced substantial growth in the past year. In March 2023, the Central Bank of Egypt reported a significant increase in consumer credit. The rise is attributed to an increase in both local and foreign currency…

Consumer lending is facing challenges in 2023, arising from the current socioeconomic environment. Indeed, as society began to recover from the impacts of the pandemic era, new factors came to play, from soaring global interest rates to the ongoing…

In 2023, Germany’s consumer lending landscape was characterised by a complex interplay of economic challenges and consumer behaviour. While the market was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, it faced headwinds from ongoing geopolitical tensions…

The growth of gross lending in consumer lending for 2023 is moderate and slower than what was anticipated a year ago. Factors such as surging inflation, an escalating energy crisis exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine (with its effects…

Consumer lending in Hong Kong is experiencing a spike in growth as the economy recovers from the impact of the pandemic, with 14% growth in gross lending primarily driven by card lending. The reopening of borders in the fourth quarter of 2022 has…

The initial optimism of early 2022 was abruptly dampened by the end of the year, and this has persisted throughout 2023. The sharp rise in borrowing costs coupled with a decline in disposable incomes due to high inflation has compelled Hungarians to…

Consumer lending is growing at a healthy pace in India, driven by evolving lifestyle preferences where consumers strive for a higher standard of living and access to modern amenities. The country’s growing economy, rising disposable incomes, and…