April was the fourth consecutive month of overall year-on-year growth in consumer credit provided by Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) members.

The trade association said that around £4.5 billion of consumer credit was granted by FLA members in April, 9% up on April in the previous year.

Almost all credit sectors showed an increase. Car finance, second charge mortgages and store instalment credit all grew by 26% compared with the previous April. Credit card finance and personal loans were up by 3%. The store card market contracted.

There was £24 million in second charges lent in April.

“The car finance market has now shown strong growth for several months, and more recently we have seen a pick-up in spending using store instalment credit,” said Geraldine Kilkelly, the FLA’s head of research and chief economist.

“It may be that we are at last seeing tentative signs of a recovery in consumer confidence.”