News

02/08/2012 10:10:04

FLS opens to get households spending

The Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) was launched yesterday (August 1st) in a bid to get households spending and reboot the economy.

Banks and building societies will be allowed to borrow from the fund at a cheaper rate to encourage them to increase lending to consumers and businesses.

It is hoped the initiative will get people back onto high streets and has come at an optimum time with figures from the Office for National Statistics revealing household disposable incomes hit a seven-year low in the first quarter of 2012.

The move has been welcomed by John Cridland, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, who believes it will provide much-needed support to the economy.

He said: "Rising borrowing costs have held back the growth ambitions of many small and medium-sized firms.

"This scheme should support banks to make finance more affordable to businesses and consumers, while also encouraging banks to lend more."