Money and Lending - February 2026

February Sees Rise in Mortgage and Consumer Credit Borrowing

In February, individuals borrowed a total of £4.8 billion in mortgage debt, up from £4.2 billion in January and surpassing the previous six-month average of £4.5 billion.

• Mortgage approvals for home purchases climbed to 62,600, compared to 60,200 in January, though this figure remains slightly below the six-month average of approximately 63,500.
• Remortgaging approvals also rose, reaching 41,200 in February from 38,500 the month before.
• Consumer credit borrowing edged up to £1.9 billion, a modest increase from January’s £1.8 billion and just above the recent six-month average.