Welcome to the March 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 March Money Statistics:
Employment and Earnings
- 598,000 18-24 year-olds (14.5%) were unemployed in November 2025 to January 2026. This was 94,600 more than the same period the previous year and 51,200 more than in August to October 2025. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2%.
- Average regular earnings growth fell to 3.8% in the three months to January 2026, down from 4.2% in the three months to December 2025. It was the slowest rate of wage growth in more than five years.
Costs and Inflation
- The rise in energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East is expected to lead to higher inflation across the UK. In March, the Bank of England indicated inflation was now likely to be between 3% and 3.5% over the next couple of quarters.
- Petrol prices have risen by 15.7 ppl between 28 February and 24 March, while diesel prices have risen by 31.5 ppl, according to RAC.
Economic Outlook and Growth
- The UK economy is estimated to have grown by 0.2% in the three months to January 2026, compared with the three months to October 2025. On an annual basis, GDP is estimated to be only 0.8% higher in January 2026, compared with January 2025.
- Compared with its November 2025 forecasts, the OBR lowered its forecast for real GDP growth in 2026 from 1.4% to 1.1%, reflecting weaker-than-expected GDP outturns in late 2025, rising unemployment and subdued business sentiment.
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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