European Consumer Credit Market on a Recovery Path in 2021

In 2021, European consumer credit providers, represented through Eurofinas, granted new loans worth €449.2 billion, a growth of 12.8% compared to 2020. The results of the Eurofinas 2021 Annual Survey show increases in new business across all lending categories.

Total new consumer credit lending showed growths in new business financed of 11.4% in 2021. Both industrial credit and mortgages contribute a smaller share of total new business, with both experiencing an increase of 10.2% and 16.0% respectively.

In the consumer credit lending category, personal loans and revolving credit each represented over a quarter (at 29%) of new credit granted in 2021. Personal loans grew by 17.0% while revolving credit exhibited an increase of 10.7%. To a lesser extent, new credit granted via non-automotive point of sale was up by 3.4%.

Consumer vehicle finance also experienced growths in new credit granted, with used cars performing better than new cars. While the former grew by 14.3%, the latter showed growth of 5.3%. The other vehicle category (motorbikes, caravans etc.) expanded by 13.1%. In contrast to the consumer car financing sector, used business car lending grew by 18.8% but a higher rise of 28.5% was seen for new business cars. Commercial vehicles were also up by 18.9%.

Aggregate figures for 2021 showed that most of Eurofinas members’ national consumer credit markets saw positive results, except for the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Portugal. Those countries recorded relatively moderate single-digit declines in 2021 compared to 2020. By contrast, half of the reporting countries enjoyed double-digit growths, with new credit granted expanding between 10% and 40%.

 Although the near-term outlook for private investment remains subdued, what is clear is the stronger need for European consumers to invest in more energy-efficient purchases. Thus, European consumer credit providers will need to leverage their strengths and stand ready to assist their customers through their green transitions.