mortgage lending by banks rose slightly higher than expected last month, figures showed yesterday.
Net mortgage lending in February increased by £4.8bn, according to data from the British Bankers Association (BBA).
The figure was £600m stronger than January's revised level of £4.bn and £300m more than the average increase of £4.5bn in the previous six months.
The BBA said February's mortgage lending was slightly higher than expected, despite low approvals in January.
The group's director of statistics, David Dooks, said: "However, it was only marginally above the recent trend and, with demand for consumer credit subdued, particularly on cards, in line with weak retail sales, overall lending to individuals was very similar to recent months."
The BBA said last month that although the data showed net mortgage lending in January rising by £4.4bn, that was £800m lower than December's underlying rise of £5.1bn
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