Housing and business finance markets make steady progress

Housing and business finance markets have made steady progress since the start of the year, while the personal finance market has been flat.

According to the latest Reserve Bank lending data, lender's mortgage books grew by 6.8 per cent over the 12 months to September. At the end of December last year the 12-month growth rate was 5.6 per cent.

Business loan books have grew by 3.8 per cent over the 12 months to September, compared with a 12-month growth rate of 1.7 per cent at the end of last year.

Personal credit balances were up by 1.1 per cent over the 12 months to September, compared with a 12-month growth rate of 0.9 per cent at the end of last year.

Residential property investors continue to drive the growth in the mortgage market. Investor loan portfolios grew by 0.9 per cent in September, compared with the previous month, and by 9.5 per cent over the 12 months to September.

Owner-occupier mortgage balances grew by 0.5 per cent in September, compared with the previous month, and by 5.5 per cent over the 12 months to September.

Owner-occupier mortgages balances in September were worth A$923 billion, investor loan balances were worth $475 billion and business loan balances were $760.8 billion.