Just Property Magazine Volume 7 | Page 30

Just Letting Credit & mortgage advances The household sector will continue to experience financial pressure over the next year. T rends in household credit and its components will continue to be driven by economic developments, and the resultant impact on household finances and consumer confidence. The household sector is expected to continue to experience some financial pressure over the next 12 months as interest rates are forecast to rise further during the course of this year. As a result, growth in household credit, including mortgage advances, is forecast to remain largely subdued in 2015. This year started of with continued low growth in the total value of outstanding credit balances in the South African household sector, with year-onyear (y/y) growth below the 4% level for the sixth consecutive month In January. Growth in household unsecured credit balances was lower compared with December last year, while growth in secured credit balances was at its lowest level since January 2012. Household secured credit balances, with a value of R1 076, 6 billion at the end of January and 75, 8% of total household credit balances, recorded growth of 2, 9% y/y at the end of January, virtually unchanged from October last year. Secured credit includes 28 Issue 7 2015 instalment sales, leasing finance and mortgage loans. Growth in household in unsecured credit balances, amounting to R343, 6 billion and 24, 2% of total household credit balances, came in at 5, 3% y/y at the end of January (5, 6% y/y at the end of December 2014) Unsecured credit consists of general loans and advances, credit card debt and overdrafts. “Growth in household credit and mortgage balances slows down further.” The vale of total outstanding private sector mortgage balances, including both commercial mortgage loans, registered growth of 4, 7% at the end of January, continuing on a steady upward growth trend since a recent low of 3, 3% y/y at the end of September last year. This was the net result of a further acceleration in year-on-year growth in corporate mortgage balances into double digits, Just Property Magazine