UK consumer credit lending
UK consumer credit lending stood at £259,496m in Aug 2026, according to Bank of England. It is one of the indicators in the Bank lending table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Apr 1993 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Bank lending table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total lending to individuals | 1,990,363 | 1,984,135 | 1,978,711 | 1,970,127 | 1,966,938 | 1,962,114 | 1,953,962 | 1,947,487 | 1,941,362 | 1,935,454 | |
| Consumer credit1 | 259,496 | 257,761 | 256,551 | 255,059 | 253,456 | 252,051 | 250,551 | 249,338 | 247,800 | 246,207 | |
| Credit card balances | 83,329 | 82,409 | 81,723 | 80,051 | 79,617 | 79,785 | 79,372 | 78,856 | 78,226 | 77,705 |
Understanding UK consumer credit lending
Registered banking entities record outstanding credit balances linked specifically to personal unsecured borrowing across the United Kingdom, such as personal loans, overdrafts, and retail finance agreements. Unlike residential property debt, this series measures financing extended without physical collateral, capturing the funding households use for general consumption, vehicle purchases, and service payments. It excludes student loans provided via government schemes, commercial enterprise overdrafts, and mortgages secured on residential property.
Evaluating this measure demands careful attention to seasonal payment spikes, particularly around retail spending peaks in late autumn and early winter. Early estimates of unsecured balances frequently undergo retrospective adjustments as financial institutions process late settlement data. Users should note that shifts in household reliance on unsecured credit often signal changes in consumer confidence and retail demand across the United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
- What forms of borrowing constitute this series?
- It encompasses unsecured personal loans, overdraft facilities, and retail finance arrangements extended to households across the United Kingdom.
- Are government-backed student loans captured here?
- No, student loans administered through public education funding schemes are excluded from monetary financial institution consumer credit statistics.
- How do seasonal factors influence unsecured borrowing figures?
- Spending surges around major holiday periods typically drive predictable expansions in credit balances, requiring analysts to rely on seasonally adjusted data.