POS volumes inch upwards

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) revealed that new business in the point of sale (POS) consumer car finance market increased one per cent by volume and six per cent by value in January, compared with the same month in 2018.

The POS consumer new car finance market reported new business volumes up by four per cent in January, compared with the same month in 2018, while the value of new business increased by eight per cent over the same period.

The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members through the POS was 91.2%% in the 12 months to January 2019, unchanged on the same period to December 2018.

The POS consumer used car finance market reported new business volumes in January at a similar level to the same month in 2018, while the value of new business increased by five per cent over the same period.

Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, head of research and chief economist at the FLA, said, ‘The POS consumer car finance market reported modest growth in new business volumes in January, with consumer confidence hit by continued Brexit-related uncertainty.

‘The market is likely to report new business volumes stable in 2019 as a whole if we see a pick-up in the economic outlook.’