UK average active credit card balance hits record £2,005 in August, FICO says
SPY•FICO’s UK credit card report said average active balances reached a record £2,005 in August 2026, up 4.8% year over year. Spending rose 3.1% month over month to £840, while payments fell to 33.3% of outstanding balances.
1. Balances and payment trends
Average active UK credit card balances reached a record £2,005 in August 2026, up 4.8% year over year, FICO’s report said. Average spending rose 3.1% from July to £840, its strongest annual growth in more than a year, while payments fell to 33.3% of outstanding balances, down 1.1% month over month.
2. Missed payments increase
Accounts with three missed payments rose 16.4% year over year, and accounts with two missed payments increased 9.5%. The report recommended early intervention for customers missing payments, citing rising inflation and energy costs as threats to household finances.
