Card Spending covers the monthly value and volume of transactions across debit and credit cards, both in the UK, and of UK-issued cards across the world. This data also covers outstanding balances on credit cards, card issuance and contactless payments.

Key data highlights

Updated 19 January 2026

Card transactions by UK cardholders both in the UK and overseas:

  • There were 2.3 billion debit card transactions in October, 1.2 per cent more than than in October 2024. The total spend of £67.1 billion was 0.5 per cent lower than in October 2024.
  • There were 403 million credit card transactions in October, 4.5 per cent more than in October 2024. The total spend of £22 billion was 4.4 per cent higher than October 2024.
  • Outstanding balances on credit card accounts have grown by 8.1 per cent over the twelve months to October and 48.1 per cent of outstanding balances incurred interest compared to 49.4 per cent in October 2024.

Card transactions made in the UK by cardholders from both the UK and from overseas countries:

  • There were 2.19 billion debit and credit card transactions in the UK in October, 0.3 per cent more than in October 2024. The total spend of £73.3 billion was 1 per cent lower than October 2024.
  • Contactless payments accounted for 66 per cent of all credit card and 76 per cent of all debit card transactions.
  • There were 1.634 billion contactless card transactions in October, 0.2 per cent less than the 1.636 billion in October 2024. The total value of contactless transactions was £26.2 billion in October, a 3.6 per cent increase on £25.3 billion in October 2024.
  • The number of contactless credit card transactions was 7.8 per cent higher than October 2024. The number of contactless debit card transactions was 1.5 per cent lower than October 2024.
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Cards Consumer finance Data and research Payments