The number of mortgage approvals by the main high street banks in May has also risen, increasing by 3 per cent compared to the same month a year earlier. As in April, increased approval numbers were driven by remortgaging, some 18 per cent more than a year earlier. In contrast, approvals for house purchase were 3.8 per cent lower than the same period a year earlier.

Credit card spending was 2.3 per cent higher than a year earlier, with outstanding levels of card borrowing having grown by 5.7 per cent over the year. The total of 193 million credit card purchases in May was well above the previous 12 month average of 181 million, reflecting increased retail sales. Outstanding overdraft borrowing was 3.9 per cent lower compared to the same time last year.

Personal deposits grew by 1.6 per cent in the last 12 months, although this was a lower annual rate than seen historically. Deposits held in instant access accounts were 4.4 per cent higher than a year earlier.