Figures from the Central Bank show that the amount of borrowing in the economy grew at the slowest rate for almost three years in March.
The annual rate of private sector credit growth was 23.2%, down from 24.8% in February. The rate of growth in residential mortgage lending also slowed sharply - from 22.9% in February to 22%, the lowest rate since November 2002.
But non-mortgage lending growth remained almost unchanged at 30.7%. Outstanding credit card debt grew at an annual rate of almost 20% in March, its highest rate for four years. The Central Bank pointed out that this figure usually falls in March.
