UK StepChange debt types: credit card
UK StepChange debt types: credit card stood at 75% in Aug 2026. It is one of the indicators in the Debt advice table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jul 2025 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Debt advice table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt types | |||||||||||
| Credit card | 75 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 71 | 71 | 70 | 71 | 69 | 69 | |
| Personal loan | 56 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 53 | 52 | 51 |
Understanding UK StepChange debt types: credit card
Client intake questionnaires capture the percentage of debt advice seekers across the United Kingdom holding revolving credit card balances among their liabilities. This series isolates unsecured revolving debt from instalment loans and contractual household arrears, reflecting plastic credit reliance. While sibling rows measure alternative borrowing vehicles like personal loans or overdrafts, this figure specifically targets multi-purpose revolving plastic facilities.
Interpreters must recognise that these figures derive from self-reported advisory intake across the United Kingdom rather than central credit bureau registers. Early monthly tallies can shift as complex client debt portfolios are fully catalogued during advisory sessions. Year-on-year comparisons provide a clearer picture of structural borrowing shifts by smoothing out seasonal retail spending spikes, whereas month-on-month figures risk distortion from festive purchasing cycles. Avoid comparing these proportions directly with aggregate banking sector lending volumes, as advice-seeking cohorts experience financial distress unrepresentative of total cardholders.
Frequently asked questions
- What specific liabilities are grouped under this credit category?
- It includes revolving balances held on standard credit cards managed during the initial debt advice assessment.
- How does this differ from store card metrics?
- Credit card liabilities cover multi-retailer payment facilities, whereas store cards are restricted to specific retail brands.
- Are business credit card debts included in these figures?
- No, the dataset focuses on personal consumer debt obligations rather than commercial or corporate borrowing.