The Bank of England has published its monthly Money and Credit statistics, providing a detailed picture of the borrowing and saving behaviour of UK households and businesses and the implications of that behaviour for the outlook for the economy.
The data show that households' net borrowing increased modestly during the month, driven by a small increase in mortgage lending. Consumer credit growth remained subdued, reflecting the effect of higher interest rates on the demand for credit and the increasing caution of lenders about the creditworthiness of borrowers.
On the savings side, households continued to deposit money in interest-bearing accounts, taking advantage of the higher rates that are now available on savings products. The flow into instant-access accounts was particularly strong, suggesting that households are prioritising liquidity — the ability to access their savings quickly — over the higher returns available on fixed-term products.
The Bank said the data were consistent with its assessment that higher interest rates were affecting borrowing and spending behaviour and that the transmission of monetary policy was working broadly as expected. The data are one of several indicators that the Monetary Policy Committee uses to assess the effectiveness of its decisions.
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