Consumer Finance

The loan repayment moratorium for vulnerable borrowers, including credit card owners, to cope with the negative economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic was extended to the end of 2022, but was not renewed in 2023. Meanwhile, high interest…

Since the reopening of borders in the fourth quarter of 2022, there has been a surge in enthusiasm among Hong Kong locals to travel abroad after enduring three years of the pandemic. Residents are now showing a strong and sustained interest in…

In 2023, credit cards are experiencing growth in terms of the number of cards, volume, and value of transactions. After a prolonged period of recovery from the Greek financial crisis of the previous decade, credit cards have found a stable position…

In 2023, credit cards in Germany witnessed a nuanced recovery characterised by a notable and consistent increase in transaction volume and value. As the nation emerged from pandemic-induced restrictions, industries such as travel and dining -…

Consumer credit is facing a number of challenges in France, to the extent the French Association of Financial Companies is reported to have called credit in 2023 a “serious cold snap”. As such, credit difficulties also affect the performance of…

Amidst the ongoing economic challenges in Egypt, ranging from currency devaluation to inflation and restricted overseas transactions, credit cards have gained substantial traction. The reliance on credit cards is expected to surge further in the…

While the number of cards in circulation is expected to remain stable, with only a marginal increase, there is expected to be a double-digit increase in total transaction values. This is largely explained by inflation, particularly as the spend on…

In 2023, the issuance of credit cards is expected to remain almost flat, with no significant increase. Growth rates for the number and value of transactions are also expected to decelerate compared to the previous year. The value of transactions,…

The number of credit cards in circulation and credit card current value transactions are expected to increase in 2023, mainly driven by further improvements in mobility and economic conditions after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted at the end of…

Credit cards in Chile are undergoing a fascinating transformation, driven by the increasing digitalisation of consumer finance. A surge in digital transactions, including via credit and debit card operations, has led to a significant shift towards…

In the latter half of 2022, Canada opened its doors, discarding travel restrictions and welcoming a surge of new students and workers from overseas. Canada's financial institutions greeted these newcomers with a generous $2,000 credit card limit, and…

While in Brazil, the number of debit cards in circulation still surpasses that of credit cards, the latter is experiencing a more rapid growth trajectory. This surge in credit card usage is fuelled by the increasing digitisation of financial services…

Driven by a general shift from cash to card payments, which was accelerated by the outbreak of COVID-19, and the continuing travel recovery, credit card transactions saw strong growth in 2023; in both the number of transactions and transition value…

Amid the rising cost of living in Australia, credit spend increased significantly in 2022, while the number of transactions has continued to rise in 2023 as consumers use their credit cards for smaller, more frequent purchases. However, the number of…

Banks in Argentina are grappling with a complex situation as the promotion of credit cards has become less lucrative. The regulated interest rates imposed by the Central Bank have limited the profitability of offering credit cards. Both the interest…

In 2023, the State Bank of Vietnam implemented measures to promote consumer lending for daily needs. To encourage banks to increase their lending activities, including consumer lending, the State Bank issued Circular No. 06/2023/TT-NHNN on 28 June…

In 2023, consumer lending has witnessed a surge in current value growth, despite soaring inflation rates that have caused substantial economic challenges for consumers. Unpredictable fluctuations in the cost of living and foreign exchange rates have…

The primary challenges facing consumer lending in 2023 have been a continuation of 2022’s twin factors of higher inflation and increasing interest rates. While the story in 2022 was one of largely unchecked inflation affecting much of the US economy,…

In comparison with Eurozone countries, the UK economy has continued to be impacted by high inflation and the soaring cost of living in 2023. While rising electricity and gas prices drove inflation in 2022, they have been gradually decreasing in 2023,…

Despite rising inflation, increasing mortgage rates and interest rates, consumer lending in the United Arab Emirates remains buoyant in 2023. The local economy’s recovery and expansion are influencing the momentum of consumer lending, but…

At the beginning of 2023, the industry anticipated a surge in consumer lending demand as Filipinos resumed spending as the country emerged out of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A substantial share of consumers also resorted to loans to manage…

The consumer lending sector in the Netherlands is currently witnessing a significant slowdown in growth, particularly in gross lending for the year 2023. This deceleration can be attributed to increasingly stringent lending criteria. Policymakers are…

The cost of living crisis continues to shape consumer lending in 2023. With double-digit inflation still in play, consumers are paying much higher prices for goods and services in the Czech Republic. Card lending is rising as consumers struggle with…

Thailand consumer lending remains robust in 2023, with double-digit growth rates in gross lending as the category continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in private consumption and the revival in tourism has led to an upturn in…

In 2023, the total credit amount in Taiwan surged over the previous year. This figure has doubled since pre-pandemic levels at the end of 2019. Taiwan's financial landscape boasts a multitude of institutions holding significant liquid funds.…

Gross lending in Sweden registered positive, yet slower growth in 2022, as the uncertain economic environment, exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, led to a decline in consumer confidence. In August 2022, the annual inflation rate soared…

The costs of households have continued to rise across the board in 2023 due to the change in tone of the monetary policy of the European Central Bank, which increased interest rates four times during 2022 and 2023, resulting in rising interest rates…

Gross consumer lending’s growth is continuing to outperform outstanding balance, driven by card lending, as local consumers spend more with the reopening of society and cross-border travel. However, outstanding balance on card lending (encompassing…

The South African economy has continued to struggle in 2023, as reflected by 0.4% real GDP growth, the unemployment rate stagnating beyond 32%, and the South African rand depreciating further against major currencies. Economic growth has also been…

Consumer lending in Singapore is exhibiting positive growth in 2023, displaying a robust recovery from the pandemic's impact since 2022. Notably, card lending has emerged as a significant driver of growth in overall consumer lending, coinciding with…

Consumer lending in Saudi Arabia is on the upturn, as the Kingdom has generally recovered from the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreso, due to consumer behaviour and expenditures unwaveringly affected by the pandemic, along with 15% VAT,…

Consumer lending in Romania for the year 2023 portrays a nuanced landscape influenced by several key factors. The confluence of increasing interest rates, high inflation, and the geopolitical context shaped by the Russian invasion of Ukraine has…

Consumer lending in Portugal is expanding in 2023 amid rising interest rates and decline in households’ disposable incomes. Demand for mortgages is slowing down with card lending posting the most dynamic growth. BNPL, although representing a small…

In 2023, Poland’s inflation rate remains in double-digits and many households are experiencing a deterioration in living conditions. The uncertain macroeconomic situation, high interest rates and the depreciation of real incomes has caused a slowdown…

Consumer lending has sustained notable growth in 2023, albeit at a more tempered pace compared to the robust expansions witnessed in the preceding years. This growth encompasses both the outstanding balance and gross lending, surpassing pre-pandemic…

The year 2023 was another prosperous year for consumer lending in Norway although growth was lower than previous years. The exceptionally high levels of consumer lending seen in 2021 and 2022 were boosted by the shift back to normal lifestyles…

Gross consumer lending is expected to register growth in 2023, but with inflation continuing to be very high, it will not go far in terms of consumer spending. A new government has implemented some difficult decisions in order to stabilise the…

While Morocco saw dynamic demand for consumer lending immediately post-pandemic as retailers and foodservice outlets reopened their doors to consumers, from September 2022 the market has been impacted by soaring prices impacting purchasing power…

The consumer lending landscape in Mexico is expected to continue to display growth in both gross lending and the outstanding balance in 2023. 2023 is proving to be particularly favourable for the growth and expansion of fintech companies, which…

Towards the end of the review period, many local consumers took out personal loans to cope with higher financial burdens. Malaysian banks have offered personal loans with more flexible repayment plans and more appealing terms when required. The…

Consumer lending in Japan is growing in 2023 in line with demand for greater convenience and easy access to lending services, mainly due to more services being accessed online. New emerging players, such as LINE Pocket Money by LINE Credit…

Consumer lending in Italy maintained positive, albeit modest growth in current value terms in 2023, as ongoing economic uncertainty led many Italians to retain a cautious attitude towards borrowing. Factors such as high inflation rates, increasing…

In 2023, the Bank of Israel implemented a significant benchmark interest rate hike. This resulted in a sharp increase in mortgage payments, impacting individuals who hold mortgages and loans. The aggressive interest rate hikes have escalated mortgage…

The consumer lending category has experienced another strong performance in Indonesia in 2023. Gross lending has shown further positive growth during the year, along similar lines to 2022. Improving economic conditions as a result of people's…

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…

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 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 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…

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…

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…