UK Mortgage Approvals Climb to 15-Month Peak

British lenders authorized 65,945 mortgages in April, marking a 15-month high that defies earlier market expectations. The Bank of England’s latest data reveals a resilience in housing market activity, as approvals surpassed the 62,000 median forecast projected by economists in a recent Reuters poll.

Consumer appetite for debt remains robust despite broader economic headwinds. Net unsecured lending climbed by £1.859 billion throughout the month, exceeding the predicted £1.7 billion increase, though it fell slightly short of the £1.904 billion recorded in March.

These figures present a complex picture of the UK economy. While mortgage approvals signal continued buyer interest, other indicators suggest a cooling period. Nationwide Building Society recently reported the first monthly decline in house prices since December, citing shifting consumer sentiment and higher borrowing costs linked to geopolitical volatility. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has corroborated this trend, noting a simultaneous softening in both buyer demand and property valuations throughout April.