: The hire purchase debt has now reached the end—1961 total of £927 millions, The figure had gone down (owine to government policy) to £872 millions in Fobruary of this year, The Boord of Trade Journal, October 4th, reported:
“Toth hire purchase and other instalment credit sales by household goods shops and new credit extended by hire purchase finance houses in August appear to have been at least maintained at, or perhaps advanced slightly ebove, the higher levels which have prevailed since the spring, after allowing for the normal seasonal decline axpected for the time of year, Total debt outstanding rose by £9 millions to £927 million during the tonth.
"esses OL@s on cradit by furnituré snd furnishing shops wore about Zo hijher than o yoar ago, and for April to August, broadly the period since new h.p. etc, agrooments for additional furniture could be added to existing agreements without further down payment, the increase was 3 on a year earlier compared with a fall of about 5% in Jommaryfarch, For multiple reteilers the increase was 7% in April to August compared with the corresponding period last year.
“In the hardware, radio, electrical goods, etc., cate gory of shops instalment credit sales were about 5% more than in August last year, compared with no change in July and a emall Tis2 in June. For the household goods departments of department stores, however, now instalment credit business in August was a little lower than . year earlier. Debt outstanding to household goods shops in total rose by €4 milltons in August to £319 million at the end of the month.
" eccoeseliaw cradit for industrial and tmilding plant and equipment was nearly one quarter highor than a year earlier, compared with a rise of about one fifth in July. Debt outstanding from hirers, etc, to finance houses rose by £5 millions in August to £608 million. Amounts owing by retailers under block discounting arrangements were unchanged at £47 millionsesss™