U.K. CREDIT BUSINESS FALLS IN JANUARY New credit advanced by finance houses, retailers, bank credit cards and other specialist providers of credit slipped to 2.66 billion stg in January from 2.78 billion in December - but remained close to the average level for 1986's fourth quarter, the Department of Trade and Industry said. Of the January total, 1.15 billion stg was advanced on bank credit cards. On a three-month basis, total advances in November to January were 3.0 pct lower than in the previous three months. Within this total, lending to consumers fell by 6.0 pct and lending to businesses declined by 5.0 pct. At end-January 1987, the total amount outstanding was 24.07 billion stg, up from December's 23.77 billion stg and 3.0 pct above the total three months earlier, the department said. January saw a rise of 300 mln stg in amounts outstanding to finance houses, other specialist credit grantors and retailers. The department said advances on credit cards rose by 1.0 pct between the latest two three-month periods. Retailers advanced 3.0 pct less in the latest three months than in the previous three months, it said.