* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
The table shows the level of bank credit to households (both mortgage
credit and consumer credit) around the world including the most recent value and recent changes. The numbers are in billion local currency units and are updated continuously as the national authorities release the new data.
Household credit carries benefits and risks to the economy. On the positive side, it allows households to purchase real estate, cars, and other items by spreading the cost over time. This makes household consumption more even over time and not so dependent on fluctuations in incomes. On the negative side, many financial crises are associated with a massive build up in household credit. Easy money pushes up property values and raises the debt levels. Then, an increase in interest rates or a drop in incomes can put significant strain on the household budgets. Households cut their spending in order to deleverage (reduce their debt) and the economy enters a recession.
Household credit is now a major component of bank credit in the advanced economies and is rapidly catching up with the levels of business credit in the developing world.
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Household credit carries benefits and risks to the economy. On the positive side, it allows households to purchase real estate, cars, and other items by spreading the cost over time. This makes household consumption more even over time and not so dependent on fluctuations in incomes. On the negative side, many financial crises are associated with a massive build up in household credit. Easy money pushes up property values and raises the debt levels. Then, an increase in interest rates or a drop in incomes can put significant strain on the household budgets. Households cut their spending in order to deleverage (reduce their debt) and the economy enters a recession.
Household credit is now a major component of bank credit in the advanced economies and is rapidly catching up with the levels of business credit in the developing world.
Download data / API
Countries
Latest data
from:
from:
Latest
value
value
Change
3 months
3 months
Change
12 months
12 months
