UK household saving ratio

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), series DGD8. Quarterly, with the quarterly national accounts about three months after the quarter ends, 7am; next release 22 December 2026

UK household saving ratio: every value, by year, with a CSV download →

What it measures

The household saving ratio is the share of households' total available resources that is not spent on consumption. Resources are disposable income plus an adjustment for the build-up of pension entitlements, so money saved through workplace pensions counts as saving even though households cannot spend it today. The figure is seasonally adjusted and covers all UK households as a sector. It does not tell you how much any one household has in the bank, and it is not an interest rate.

How to read it

A higher ratio means households are spending a smaller share of their income, which may reflect caution, fewer opportunities to spend, or higher interest rates on savings. The ONS splits the ratio into pension saving and other saving; in April to June 2026, pension saving contributed 4.3 percentage points of the 8.8%. The ratio is calculated as the difference between two large numbers, income and spending, so modest revisions to either can move it noticeably. For the amount of money people hold in deposits, use the Bank of England's money and credit statistics.

Background

The ONS series starts in 1963. Its lowest values, 3.1%, were in April to June 1963 and January to March 1999. The ratio rose to 14.0% in April to June 1993, after the early 1990s recession, and reached its record 27.1% in April to June 2020, when lockdowns closed shops and restaurants while many incomes were supported. It fell to 3.5% in April to June 2022 as prices rose, before recovering. The ONS also publishes a ratio for households combined with non-profit institutions serving households (series NRJS), which gives slightly different figures.

What is the UK household saving ratio now?

When this page was checked on 13 October 2026, the ONS estimated the households' saving ratio at 8.8% in April to June 2026, up from 8.6% in January to March 2026. The figures were published on 30 September 2026; the next estimate was due on 22 December 2026.

Why did the saving ratio jump in 2020?

In April to June 2020 the ratio reached 27.1%, the highest in the series. Spending fell sharply because shops, travel and hospitality were closed during lockdown, while incomes were supported by the furlough scheme and other measures, so a large share of income was not spent.

Is the saving ratio the same as savings interest rates?

No. Searches for UK savings rates are often about the interest paid on savings accounts. The Bank of England publishes average quoted and effective interest rates on deposits in its database. The saving ratio is the share of income households do not spend.

Does the saving ratio include pensions?

Yes. Contributions to workplace pensions and the growth of pension entitlements count as saving. The ONS publishes the pension contribution separately so you can see how much of the ratio comes from pensions and how much from other saving.

Related questions

• What is the median household income in the UK?
• What is the Bank of England base rate today?
• Are wages rising faster than inflation in the UK?
• How do I use the Bank of England statistical database?

More on this source: Bank of England Statistical Interactive Database