Small businesses and financial economies of scale

The latest Bank of England survey on financial and credit conditions finds that smaller businesses are finding it tough to get the credit they need to finance an upturn in sales and production. Interest rate spreads on new loans are rising and it is larger firms that seem to be benefitting from lower borrowing costs. A Times article explains that “larger groups are enjoying a reduction in the cost of borrowing and improved access to credit as banks favour lower-risk custom.” - the main commercial banks continue to adopt a risk averse approach to new lending and this may hamper prospects of recovery.

Unsecured loans for consumers have also become harder to get and more expensive despite the ultra-low interest rate policy of the Bank of England. In 2006, the top 10 average rate for a £3,000 personal loan was 6.49%, but today it is 14.92%, analysis by price comparison website moneysupermarket.com has shown.