Household debt: Economic indicators

Economic indicators are quick-read summaries of the latest data focusing on different aspects of the UK economy. The full suite of indicators can be found on the main Economic Indicators page.

Household debt as a % of disposable income

Household debt peaked in Q3 2008 at 156.7% of household disposable income. It then declined to around 133% by early 2016.

Household debt levels have been falling since the beginning of 2022. In Q2 2026 the debt-to-income ratio was 116.5%.

Statistical note: The household debt and income source data were changed in May 2019. Previously debt and income totals included the non-profit sector (mostly charities and universities). The new data reflects only individuals in the household sector. The overall historical trends are unchanged. For more see the Library paper on household debt.

Current average mortgage interest rates

The average Standard Variable Rate (SVR) was 6.58% in September 2026, down 0.22 percentage points on a year ago.

The average two-year fixed mortgage rate was 5.13% in September 2026, up 0.94 percentage points on a year ago.

Individual insolvencies

There were 34,303 individual insolvencies in England and Wales in Q2 2026, 569 fewer than in the previous quarter.

The Q2 2026 level is 11.2% higher than the level in Q2 2025.

In Scotland, there were 2,181 individual insolvencies in Q2 2026, up 13% on the year.

In Northern Ireland, there were 169 individual insolvencies in Q2 2026, up 10% on the year.

Next updates

This page is updated when new data is published. The next source updates will be:

• Bank of England, Statistical database, 6 November 2026

• Insolvency Service, Insolvency Statistics, 18 December 2026

• ONS, UK Economic Accounts, 22 December 2026