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V12 Retail Finance Q3 Data Shows Home Improvement Finance More Than Doubling



New quarterly data from V12 Retail Finance shows that UK consumers continued to turn to point-of-sale finance for high-value purchases in the third quarter of 2026. Total finance values across the platform grew 7% between July and September compared with Q3 2025, and were almost 20% higher than in the same period of 2024.


The quarter got off to a challenging start as prolonged hot weather and a busy international sporting calendar disrupted normal shopping patterns in July. However, each month of the quarter was ahead of the same month in 2025, and demand strengthened as the summer went on. As in the first half of the year, growth came mainly from categories linked to the home, health and practical everyday purchases. This suggests that households remain willing to commit to significant spending, but continue to be selective about where they do so.


Andrew Phillips, Managing Director of V12 Retail Finance said:

"The third quarter shows a consumer who is still willing to spend on what matters most, even when the backdrop is far from straightforward. July was a difficult month for many retailers, but demand held up and strengthened through August and September."

"The standout trend is the continued investment households are making in their homes. Home improvement finance more than doubled year on year in the quarter, and that reflects a broader shift we have been tracking for some time, as people choose to improve the homes they already have rather than move."


"Consumers remain cautious about the wider economic picture, and we expect them to stay selective. But the strength and breadth of demand across our portfolio gives us confidence as retailers head into Black Friday and the Christmas trading period."


Home improvements emerge as the defining trend of 2026

Home Improvements was a standout performer in V12’s portfolio in Q3. Finance values rose by around 112% year on year, and the pace of growth increased each month. Values were up approximately 56% in July, 107% in August and 163% in September.


The category has now grown almost fourfold in quarterly value since Q3 2024, and now accounts for around 7% of total finance values, compared with less than 4% in the same period last year. Across the first nine months of 2026, home improvement finance values are up by around 73% year on year. This builds on the multi-year pattern of increased investment in property-related projects that V12's earlier data releases highlighted.


Furniture remains the anchor of demand

Furniture remained the largest category by a significant margin, accounting for close to 49% of all finance values in Q3 2026. Finance values held broadly stable, rising around 1.5% year on year on what had been a strong Q3 2025.


Performance varied through the quarter, with July softer as warm weather reduced footfall, particularly at retail park locations. August was a stronger month for the category, with finance values rising nearly 9% year on year as cooler temperatures and Bank Holiday promotional activity brought customers back to stores. On August Bank Holiday Monday alone, applications approved across V12's portfolio rose by almost 40% compared with the same day in 2025, with furniture retailers making a significant contribution.


Healthcare and practical categories continue to grow

Healthcare and dental finance values rose by around 6% year on year, and are up by more than a third compared with Q3 2024. The category accounted for around 12% of V12's total finance values in the quarter. This reflects continued consumer willingness to invest in dental and elective treatment, supported by the expansion of V12's healthcare provider network.


Growth was also strong across several practical and lifestyle categories. Consumer electrical finance values more than doubled year on year, rising by around 126%. Cycles grew by around 24%, with double-digit growth in every month of the quarter. Motor finance rose by close to 6%.


Signs of stabilisation in discretionary categories

In Q1, discretionary luxury categories were under pressure. In Q3, there were early signs that this pressure is beginning to ease. Jewellery, the second largest sector by value, returned to growth, with finance values rising nearly 3% year on year. This marks a positive step after a softening trend that had been evident since mid-2024.


Other discretionary categories remained more subdued. Art saw a decline of close to 8%, while music was broadly flat. This suggests that while sentiment around non-essential purchases may be improving, households are still exercising restraint in some areas.


Retailer network continues to expand

V12's retailer network continued to grow during the quarter. The most significant milestone was the launch of V12's partnership with Magnet, which went live across all 150 Magnet stores in July and made a strong early contribution to the growth in home improvement finance. The sector also benefited from continued growth among retailers introduced through broker partners.


"What has been particularly encouraging this quarter is how broad the growth has been," added Andrew Phillips.

"We have seen strength in our largest categories, in healthcare and in practical purchases, and early signs of recovery in jewellery. Combined with the momentum in home improvements and new partnerships such as Magnet, that gives us a solid platform as we move into the busiest trading period of the year."

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V12 Retail Finance Q3 Data Shows Home Improvement Finance More Than Doubling

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New quarterly data from V12 Retail Finance shows that UK consumers continued to turn to point-of-sale finance for high-value purchases in the third quarter of 2026.

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Jan 22, 2025
3 min read

A new, nationwide survey reveals how fast-paced, modern life has become, with many resorting to multi-tasking hacks in a bid to save precious time.

Relaxing is a thing of the past, as 36 percent of Brits now continuing to work on their phones in the evening, while watching their TV programmes.

A busy quarter (25 percent) have no choice but to send work emails on the loo, while one in twenty (six percent) call their boss while cleaning their house, according to the study by electric vehicle (EV) charging specialists, Roam.

So accustomed we are to multi-tasking in the modern age, that one in five (20 percent) do the weekly shop while their EV car is charging, while one in ten (ten percent) work on their internet dating while walking around the supermarket.

Jumping on a team's meeting while looking after the kids (nine percent), brushing teeth in the shower (20 percent) and sending emails on the treadmill (7 percent) are also now the norm, while seven percent have dialled into a work call while walking the dog - and 13 percent have done a full week’s shop during a face-to-face business meeting.

Overall, one in three (30 percent) of Brits are confident they have mastered the art of multitasking.

Over half (51 percent) believe that being able to multitask is essential to modern life, with 42 percent going a step further and saying that modern life is so busy that you HAVE to do two tasks at the same time.

79 percent think their life is just a series of tasks, from the minute they wake up to the minute they go to bed, with three quarters (75 percent) feeling they are spinning too many plates and juggling too many balls.

It’s no surprise that 57 percent feel completely overwhelmed by how many things they have to achieve every day - with the average Brit having 12 tasks on the to-do list a day, keeping them busy until 8pm at night.

A spokesperson for EV charging specialists, Roam, who commissioned the study said: “This research highlights that our lives are now busier than ever, so it’s understandable that so many of us are looking for convenient and efficient ways to get all of life’s jobs done, EV charging included.”

“Going shopping or hitting the gym while you’re charging your car is now a realistic part of modern life, giving time-poor Brits the freedom to go wherever life takes them.”

And it seems that the age-old debate about whether women are better multi-taskers still divides the nation as 51 percent say they are, while 49 percent are not convinced.

Despite this, 85 percent admit that splitting their concentration across multiple tasks has resulted in them making a mistake.

How Multi-Tasking Brits Save Time

1. Working / sending emails while watching TV – 36%

2. Working / sending emails on the loo – 25%

3. Ironing while listening to a podcast or audiobook – 22%

4. Brushing teeth in the shower – 20%

5. Shopping while charging your EV car – 20%

6. Cooking while helping the kids with their housework – 19%

7. Online shopping while in a work meeting – 13%

8. Ordering a take-away while on a work call - 11%

9. Internet dating while doing the weekly shop – 10%

10. Doing a work teams meeting while looking after your kids – 9%

11. Working / sending emails on the treadmill – 7%

12. Dialling into a work meeting on the dog walk – 7%

13. Cleaning while talking to your boss on the phone – 6%

14. Working on your phone, while charging your electric vehicle – 6%

15. Doing the weekly shop at the gym – 5%

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New quarterly data from V12 Retail Finance shows that UK consumers continued to turn to point-of-sale finance for high-value purchases in the third quarter of 2026.

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