Aussies’ personal finance soars $7.12b

Australians increased their borrowing 4.3% in January, according to the Australia Bureau of Statistics.

Seasonally adjusted, personal finance jumped from $7.12 billion in December 2011 to $7.43 billion in January 2012.

In contrast, business lending decreased by 1.1%, seasonally-adjusted, over the same period.

Lease finance increased 9.4% to $473 million in January, after a fall of 10.6% in December 2011.

Finance for owner-occupied housing edged up 0.1% to $14.1 billion.

The trend in buy-to-rent housing rose 0.7%.

Source: ABS