BOE Lending Climate Report - First Quarter 2026

Credit Access Trends for Households and Businesses

According to lenders, secured credit options for households saw an uptick during the first quarter ending in February 2026, and are anticipated to rise further by the end of May 2026. (See Chart 1)

Unsecured credit availability for households remained steady in the first quarter, but is projected to grow in the second quarter. (See Chart 2)

For the corporate sector as a whole, credit access did not change in the first quarter. However, when examining businesses by size, lenders noted that small, medium, and large enterprises all experienced improved credit availability during this period. (See Chart 3)