Gross mortgage lending across the residential market in December 2018 was £21.1bn, some 4.7 per cent higher than the same month the previous year. Gross mortgage lending across the residential market during 2018 was £267.5bn, some 3.8 per cent higher than in 2017.

The number of mortgages approved by the main high street banks in December 2018 was 2.4 per cent lower than the same month the previous year; approvals for home purchase were 5.3 per cent higher, remortgage approvals were 5.8 per cent lower and approvals for other secured borrowing were 18.9 per cent lower.

The £11.0bn of credit card spending in December 2018 was 8.8 per cent higher than the same month the previous year. The outstanding level of credit card borrowing grew by 4.7 per cent in the twelve months to December. Personal borrowing through loans and overdrafts grew by 3.4 per cent in the year to December.

Personal deposits in total grew by 0.6 per cent in the year to December 2018. Deposits held in instant access accounts were 2.4 per cent higher than last December.