大象传媒

New figures from the Bank of England confirm a rapid increase in consumer credit, which is growing much faster than the economy itself.

The Bank has forced banks to find a further 拢11.4bn in the next 18 months to beef up their finances against the risk of bad loans.

Merryn Somerset Webb, editor of Moneyweek magazine, told Eddie Mair that the action "should also make the consumer stop and think".

She said "in the end [the Bank of England] will have to raise interest rates" but these are "small changes" which will not effect the average person who can afford their debt.

(Photo: A selection of credit cards. Credit: Getty Images)