Welcome to the April 2026 edition of The Money Statistics, The Money Charity’s comprehensive monthly round-up of statistics showing how we use money in the UK, kindly funded by Vanquis.
Striking Numbers from the April Money Statistics:
Household Finances
- Council tax across England will rise by 4.9% on average for households in 2026-27, adding to cost of living pressures. The average council tax for a Band D property will be £2,392 a year, an increase of £111 on last year.
- About 1.3 million UK homeowners may face a jump in their mortgage costs following the economic “shock” caused by the conflict in the Middle East, according to the Bank of England.
Pay and Income
- Minimum wage rates increased on 1 April 2026. The National Living Wage increased by £0.50 to £12.71 for those aged 21 and above. For those aged 18-20, the minimum wage went up by £0.85 to £10.85. For under 18s the new rate is £8.00. The apprentice rate is £8.00.
- The State Pension has increased by 4.8% in April 2026. This means over 12 million pensioners will see their State Pension rise by up to £575.
- The state pension age rise from 66 to 67 has also officially started as of April 2026, meaning millions of workers need to wait longer for retirement.
Wider Economy
- Total net borrowing for the year to March 2026 was estimated at £132.0 billion, down from £151.9 billion for the year to March 2025. It was the lowest since 2022-23, according to ONS.
- The UK economy grew by 0.5% in February 2026, following a growth of 0.1% in January 2026, while the inflation rate rose to 3.3% in the year to March 2026, remaining above the Bank of England’s 2% target.
Get the full picture and many more fascinating facts about money in the UK in our monthly Money Statistics. Previous editions can be found in the archive.
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