The totals include bank-issued and retail credit cards, auto loans, consumer-finance loans, home-equity lending and student loans.

WSJ: Banks Loosen Purse Strings

Thus both home-equity lending and mortgage refinancing, which allow households to tap into the capital gains on their homes, have helped to support consumer spending during the recent downturn.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

Furthermore, home equity has evaporated (see chart 6 ) and tight lending standards on credit card and other loans prevail.

FORBES: The Chances Of A Double Dip

They'll continue to push sales of interest-only refinancing loans, home equity lines of credit, as well as venture into other consumer-lending activities to soften the sting of falling revenue from making mortgage loans.

FORBES: Liz Moyer On Banking

However, with mortgage lending booming, house prices surging and home-owners tempted to borrow against the rising equity in their homes, the Bank will be worried about inflation.

BBC: Nationwide Building Society branch