Research and analysis

Regulated short term lending, particularly the "payday loan" style, is a fairly recent innovation. Many consumers seem to value the option of accessing small sums of money for short periods rather than the more traditional approach of borrowing larger sums over several months or years, or using open ended credit such as credit cards.

Because this is a relatively new industry it has attracted a lot of interest as it has developed. Some commentators seem to be overly concerned just because it is new, and different! But short term lending is available not just in the UK but in many other countries with well developed consumer credit markets such as Australia, Canada and the USA.

See below for links to reports, articles and downloadable material produced by reputable organisations and governmental bodies that may be of interest. The CFA is happy to consider appropriate research material for inclusion on this page please send it to info@cfa-uk.co.uk.

Reports and analysis

Consumer Focus
Keeping the plates spinning perceptions of payday loans in Great Britain
August 2010

Office of Fair Trading
Review of high-cost credit
June 2010

Click here to download the CFAs analysis of the OFT Reviews findings
about payday lending

Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Payday Holiday - how households fare after payday credit bans
Feb 2008

HM Treasury, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Consumer Credit and Personal Insolvency Review:
Formal Response on Consumer Credit
November 2011