Consumer credit lending to individuals (amount outstanding), United Kingdom
Consumer credit lending to individuals in the United Kingdom was £576.6 bn in , up 0.7% from and up 8.8% from a year earlier. Over the latest 12 readings it moved between £534.3 bn and £576.6 bn. The next reading is for April 2026. Source: Bank of England, Bank of England Database LPMVZRI; history from .
Key takeaways
- Consumer credit lending to individuals at £576.6 bn in beats 100% of readings since (Bank of England).
- Against a ten-year average of £402.1 bn, consumer credit lending to individuals is above that norm by £174.5 bn (Bank of England).
- On consumer credit lending to individuals, the United Kingdom ranks 2nd highest of 2 countries (national publishers).
What this indicator is and why it matters
Consumer credit lending to individuals is the amount UK households owe on credit cards, overdrafts and other unsecured personal loans, from the Bank of England's monetary and financial statistics (series LPMVZRI). The series is the seasonally adjusted amount outstanding at the end of each month, in sterling.
Unsecured credit is the part of household borrowing that reacts fastest to confidence and spending: people borrow more on cards and personal loans when they are optimistic or when real incomes are squeezed, and repay when they become cautious. Banks earn higher margins on it than on mortgages but suffer higher losses, so its growth matters for both bank profits and credit risk.
The main pitfall is reading changes in the amount outstanding as new borrowing. The level also changes when lenders write off bad debts or sell loan books, so the Bank of England publishes net lending flows separately for that purpose; the difference can be large in some months. Credit card balances also include spending that is repaid in full each month and never incurs interest, which inflates the total without adding to household debt burdens. Check the latest period: this series can lag the other Bank of England lending series on this site.
Where it sits in history
Consumer credit lending to individuals is at its highest since the series starts in . Within ten years, consumer credit lending to individuals beats 100% of readings.
| Window | Latest is higher than | Average | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since January 2006 | 100% of readings | £311.6 bn | £576.6 bn | £206.3 bn |
| Last ten years | 100% of readings | £402.1 bn | £576.6 bn | £270.2 bn |
| Last five years | 100% of readings | £466.6 bn | £576.6 bn | £377.3 bn |
- Consumer credit lending to individuals (amount outstanding) £577bn
Recent readings
Last five years
- Consumer credit lending to individuals (amount outstanding) £577bn
Latest readings
| Period | Value | Change from previous |
|---|---|---|
| £576.6 bn | +0.7% | |
| £572.7 bn | +0.7% | |
| £568.9 bn | +0.8% | |
| £564.6 bn | +0.7% | |
| £560.6 bn | +0.8% | |
| £556.3 bn | +0.7% | |
| £552.2 bn | +0.6% | |
| £548.7 bn | +0.7% | |
| £544.7 bn | +0.8% | |
| £540.6 bn | +0.8% | |
| £536.1 bn | +0.3% | |
| £534.3 bn | +0.8% | |
| £529.9 bn | +0.5% |
Annual averages
By calendar-year average, consumer credit lending to individuals peaked in (£543.2 bn) and bottomed in (£207.3 bn). 2026 to date: £572.7 bn, after £543.2 bn in 2025.
| Year | Average | Low | High | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (part year) | £572.7 bn | £568.9 bn | £576.6 bn | 3 |
| 2025 | £543.2 bn | £523.2 bn | £564.6 bn | 12 |
| 2024 | £499.0 bn | £476.2 bn | £518.9 bn | 12 |
| 2023 | £452.7 bn | £432.1 bn | £471.7 bn | 12 |
| 2022 | £412.6 bn | £396.2 bn | £427.6 bn | 12 |
| 2021 | £383.9 bn | £375.9 bn | £393.9 bn | 12 |
| 2020 | £374.7 bn | £368.5 bn | £380.4 bn | 12 |
| 2019 | £365.3 bn | £353.6 bn | £375.6 bn | 12 |
| 2018 | £338.6 bn | £324.2 bn | £350.9 bn | 12 |
| 2017 | £308.0 bn | £293.5 bn | £322.5 bn | 12 |
| 2016 | £278.2 bn | £265.2 bn | £291.2 bn | 12 |
| 2015 | £253.3 bn | £244.1 bn | £262.9 bn | 12 |
| 2014 | £229.5 bn | £220.8 bn | £240.5 bn | 12 |
| 2013 | £214.2 bn | £210.2 bn | £219.1 bn | 12 |
| 2012 | £207.3 bn | £206.5 bn | £209.9 bn | 12 |
| 2011 | £209.1 bn | £206.3 bn | £211.8 bn | 12 |
| 2010 | £217.4 bn | £212.8 bn | £224.6 bn | 12 |
| 2009 | £217.8 bn | £214.9 bn | £219.9 bn | 12 |
| 2008 | £233.1 bn | £228.5 bn | £237.7 bn | 12 |
| 2007 | £216.6 bn | £213.6 bn | £221.8 bn | 12 |
| 2006 | £212.3 bn | £211.5 bn | £213.2 bn | 12 |
Same measure in other countries
Consumer credit lending to individuals in the United Kingdom is above 0 of the other 1 comparable readings. Four countries compared.
| Country | Series | Latest | Period | Change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Consumer credit lending to individuals (amount outstanding) | £576.6 bn | +8.8% | |
| United States | Consumer credit outstanding | $5,196.8 bn | August 2026 | +2.7% |
How is it measured?
Amount outstanding of total sterling consumer credit lending to individuals.
Bank of England publishes consumer credit lending to individuals monthly in Bank of England Database LPMVZRI, in GBP and is seasonally adjusted. Code: LPMVZRI. Method for consumer credit lending to individuals.
Questions
How high is consumer credit lending to individuals in the United Kingdom now?
£576.6 bn in (Bank of England), up 8.8% on a year earlier.
Is consumer credit lending to individuals high by historical standards?
Consumer credit lending to individuals beats 100% of readings since ; its peak was £576.6 bn (), its low £206.3 bn ().
When is consumer credit lending to individuals updated?
Monthly, in Bank of England Database LPMVZRI. Next reading: April 2026.
Where can I check consumer credit lending to individuals at the source?
Bank of England data, code LPMVZRI.