The number of people having trouble meeting repayments on loans rose to 7.2% of the population in the first six months of 2011, according to figures published on Tuesday by the credit registration agency BKR.

The figures show that at the end of June 655,000 people were struggling with repayments, compared to 600,000 at the end of 2010. The figure stabilised that year following a considerable increase during the economic crisis.