U.K. CREDIT BUSINESS FALLS IN JANUARY

  New credit advanced by finance houses,
  retailers, bank credit cards and other specialist providers of
  credit slipped to 2.66 billion stg in January from 2.78 billion
  in December - but remained close to the average level for
  1986's fourth quarter, the Department of Trade and Industry
  said.
      Of the January total, 1.15 billion stg was advanced on bank
  credit cards.
      On a three-month basis, total advances in November to
  January were 3.0 pct lower than in the previous three months.
  Within this total, lending to consumers fell by 6.0 pct and
  lending to businesses declined by 5.0 pct.
      At end-January 1987, the total amount outstanding was 24.07
  billion stg, up from December's 23.77 billion stg and 3.0 pct
  above the total three months earlier, the department said.
      January saw a rise of 300 mln stg in amounts outstanding to
  finance houses, other specialist credit grantors and retailers.
      The department said advances on credit cards rose by 1.0
  pct between the latest two three-month periods. Retailers
  advanced 3.0 pct less in the latest three months than in the
  previous three months, it said.
  

