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Commons Briefing paper by Brigid Francis-Devine. It was first published on Monday, 30 March 2015. It was last updated on Friday, 7 August 2026.


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 155.8% of household disposable income. It then declined to around 135% by early 2016.

Household debt levels have been falling since the beginning of 2022. In Q1 2026 the debt-to-income ratio was 117.2%.

Time series chart showing household debt as a percentage of disposable income. This has fallen continuously since 2007.

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 6.60% in July 2026, down 0.39 percentage points on a year ago.

The average two-year fixed mortgage rate was 4.79% in July 2026, up 0.58 percentage points on a year ago.

Time series chart showing current average mortgage interest rates. The average Standard variable rate has been rising since 2022. The 2 year fixed rose sharply from 2022, then fluctuated between the end of 2022 and 2024. It has been falling in recent quarters.

Individual insolvencies

There were 35,143 individual insolvencies in England and Wales in Q1 2026, 1,446 more than in the previous quarter.

The Q1 2026 level is 20.4% higher than the level in Q1 2025.

In Scotland, there were 1,896 individual insolvencies in Q4 2025, up 6% on the year.

In Northern Ireland, there were 412 individual insolvencies in Q1 2026, up 3% on the year.

Bar chart showing individual insolvencies in England and Wales from 2021. These fell in 2023 and rose slightly in 2024.

Next updates

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

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Secondary information

Type
Research briefing
Reference
SN02885 
Category
Economic indicators
Subjects
Debts Insolvency Interest rates Economic situation Mortgages Disposable income
Contains statistics
Yes
Published by
Economic Policy and Statistics Section
House of Commons Library
Link
View this Research briefing on researchbriefings.parliament.uk