UK StepChange debt types: personal loan
UK StepChange debt types: personal loan stood at 56% 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 | |||||||||||
| Personal loan | 56 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 53 | 52 | 51 | |
| Overdraft | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
Understanding UK StepChange debt types: personal loan
Advisory intake statistics measure the proportion of debt advice clients across the United Kingdom reporting unsecured personal loan obligations. This metric captures fixed-term, fixed-amount borrowing typically sourced from high street banks or specialist lenders, distinguishing it from revolving credit facilities like credit cards and overdrafts. Unlike sibling indicators tracking retail credit or catalogue accounts, this series focuses exclusively on structured medium-term financial commitments.
When evaluating these figures across the United Kingdom, analysts should account for potential reporting lags in client financial disclosures during initial consultations. Early monthly estimates undergo regular verification as caseworkers audit complete liability schedules. Year-on-year comparisons offer the most reliable analytical foundation, bypassing seasonal borrowing cycles driven by annual holiday expenditures or tax deadlines. Cross-referencing this series with commercial banking lending aggregates requires caution, given that advice-seeking populations exhibit significantly higher debt-to-income distress ratios than the general borrowing public.
Frequently asked questions
- What differentiates a personal loan from revolving credit in this data?
- Personal loans involve fixed repayment schedules for a set principal, whereas revolving credit allows fluctuating balances.
- Are secured loans included in this specific percentage?
- No, secured borrowing such as mortgages is tracked in separate housing liability categories.
- Why should analysts use year-on-year metrics for this series?
- Annual comparisons eliminate calendar-driven borrowing patterns tied to recurring annual expenses.