UK household final consumption expenditure
UK household final consumption expenditure stood at £436,418m in Q2 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Quarterly GDP table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1955 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Quarterly GDP table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expenditure components | |||||||||||
| Household final consumption expenditure | 436,418 | 434,933 | 431,963 | 431,451 | 431,110 | 431,296 | 431,147 | 428,059 | 410,856 | 411,391 | |
| Gross fixed capital formation, total | 144,517 | 143,172 | 140,695 | 141,171 | 140,106 | 139,557 | 135,919 | 136,163 | 131,548 | 131,413 |
Understanding UK household final consumption expenditure
Consumer spending by resident private individuals and households across the United Kingdom is measured in this series, expressed in £m. It encompasses outlays on durable goods, semi-durables, non-durable everyday items, and marketable services, alongside imputed transactions such as owner-occupier imputed rent and remuneration in kind. It excludes spending by businesses on capital assets, operational outlays by non-profit community bodies, and direct domestic procurement by general government.
The figures are published on a seasonally adjusted basis to account for recurring holiday spending surges and quarterly weather effects. In the quarterly accounts, retail sales surveys and credit card data provide early foundations, which are subsequently benchmarked against annual living costs and food surveys. When analysing these figures alongside real living conditions, users must note whether they are viewing nominal expenditure or volume equivalents, as general price inflation can expand expenditure levels while purchased quantities contract.
Frequently asked questions
- Are purchases of newly constructed dwellings included in household consumption?
- No, buying a residential property is classified as gross fixed capital formation in dwellings rather than household consumption.
- What is imputed rent and why is it included in household expenditure?
- Imputed rent estimates the housing services owner-occupiers consume by living in their own homes, ensuring comparability between renters and owners.
- Does this series include spending by UK residents while travelling abroad?
- Yes, national accounts household consumption operates on a national basis, adding overseas spending by residents and deducting domestic spending by foreign tourists.