The Guardian6 jun 2026Macro
Automatisch samengesteld met AI uit de vermelde bronnen
New personal loans issued by Australian banks reached a record $5.1 billion in the first three months of 2026, more than double the sub-$2 billion quarterly run rate from 2017 to 2021, according to ABS data. Average interest rates on new personal loans stood at 9% in March, compared with 5.9% for new mortgages. University of Sydney finance professor Andrew Grant said the increase typically signals intense financial pressure, while Equifax’s Kevin James noted that stronger regulation of buy-now-pay-later products in 2025 shifted demand back to personal loans. All four major banks have been expanding their personal loan books since 2022–23 after years of contraction.