Mortgage lending total lowest since 2000 - CML

Gross lending for the first quarter of 2010 was an estimated £29.5bn, a 24% decline from Q4 last year and a 9% decline from £32.4bn in the first three months of 2009. The CML says this is the lowest quarterly lending total since the first three months of 2000, but is very much in line with its forecast of a gross lending total of £150bn this year. Gross lending was an estimated £11.5bn in March, a 24% rise from £9.3bn in February and a 3% rise from £11.2bn in March 2009. CML economist Paul Samter says: "Overall, housing and mortgage activity remains subdued, but is comfortably h...