UK real household spending: housing and energy
UK real household spending: housing and energy stood at £117,689m in Q2 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Household spending and saving table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1985 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Household spending and saving table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household spending, chained volume | |||||||||||
| Housing, water, electricity and fuels | 117,689 | 117,390 | 117,097 | 116,798 | 116,746 | 116,448 | 115,943 | 115,278 | 108,398 | 108,124 | |
| Furnishings and household equipment | 20,308 | 20,145 | 19,633 | 19,419 | 19,289 | 19,415 | 19,384 | 19,670 | 19,127 | 19,113 |
Understanding UK real household spending: housing and energy
Housing, water, electricity, and fuel spending measures the real volume of residential utility services and imputed rentals across the United Kingdom in chained volume terms. The series incorporates actual and imputed rentals for housing, alongside physical consumption of piped gas, electricity, liquid fuels, and water supply, while excluding major capital home renovations. Expressed in GBP million, the chained measure removes energy price volatility to highlight real shifts in domestic utility usage and housing service volumes.
Interpreting these figures requires careful awareness of weather anomalies, as unusually cold or warm quarters heavily influence heating fuel and electricity volumes independently of economic trends. Revisions to early estimates often occur when energy supplier returns and regulatory data are fully reconciled. Analysts comparing this series with household disposable income should recognise that mandatory utility and housing costs represent an inflexible baseline expenditure that changes slowly compared to discretionary categories.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series include major structural home renovations or extensions?
- No, structural home improvements are treated as capital formation rather than routine household consumption expenditure.
- How do weather patterns influence the quarterly housing and energy figures?
- Unusually cold winters or mild seasons generate sharp fluctuations in heating fuel and electricity consumption volumes.
- Why are imputed rentals included alongside actual utility bills?
- Imputed rentals estimate the value of housing services consumed by owner-occupiers to maintain consistency with tenants who pay actual rent.