The net level of consumer credit taken out in June hit £1.3bn, the Bank of England said.

The figure was £0.2bn lower than that in May, and below the expectations of financial analysts.

And the number of house loans approved last month fell to 105,000, almost 15% down on the May figure.

Following Office for National Statistics data showing two months of decline in High Street sales, and reports of a slowing growth in house prices, the figures will be closely analysed by economists.

But Bank statisticians warned that the data may have been skewed by the falling in June of the Golden Jubilee celebrations and the World Cup.