The latest quarter of 2011 has seen more lower middle class families submit applications for credit, according to new research.
Figures released by the Centre for Economic and Business Research suggest that the recent rise in applications from this social group has been substantial.
However, the study indicates that when applying for short-term unsecured loans, nearly six in 10 lower middle class consumers are seeing their requests for credit turned down.
Less than a third of their counterparts from upper and middle class backgrounds are experiencing the same problem.
People now often rely on credit as part of their everyday budgeting, said Paul Lewis of Credit Confidential, the organisation that conducted the study.
He added: "With the autumn still ahead, they are stockpiling credit now, hoping it will get them through, as they fear it will be harder to come by later in the year."
