TransUnion Consumer Pulse Report Q2 2026

TransUnion’s quarterly survey explores how consumers’ personal finances have changed and what changes they expect in the future. The study measures shifting consumer attitudes and behaviours based on the dynamics of income, debt and identity theft. The analyses and insights give consumers a voice and inform businesses’ decision-making as they seek to create economic opportunity for consumers. 

Confidence plateaus amid new uncertainties

Forty-four percent of UK consumers surveyed expressed optimism about personal finances in the next 12 months, essentially unchanged from late 2025 and well above its lowest point in Q3 2022 when it was 26%. While this reflects a settling of optimism, the sentiment dipped from its recent peak of 47% in Q1 2026, which suggests a slight stall, potentially due to heightened global geopolitical tensions and ensuing economic uncertainty that emerged in March.

Credit access and availability are on the rise

Well more than half (61%) felt they have sufficient access to credit and lending options, up from 53% in Q2 2025. This improvement was observed across the most credit underserved populations: 56% (up from 50%) of Gen Z and 51% (up from 46%) of low-income households felt they have sufficient credit access.* While credit supply appeared to rise, especially among those consumers who usually have the least access, credit demand remained stable and relatively consistent as 24% of consumers planned to apply for new credit or refinance in the next year. That equates to nearly one in four Brits considering new borrowing, a significant share that’s held fairly steady since we began asking the question in Q4 2022. These trends suggest UK lenders are expanding credit availability, especially among lower-income and younger consumers, and a notable cohort of consumers is still looking to borrow in 2026, even as interest rates remain elevated.

Financial stress concentrated among the vulnerable

The resilience of the average consumer masks continuing stress on vulnerable groups. A small percentage (17%) expected to miss at least one current bill or loan payment, a rate largely unchanged since last quarter, and one heavily skewed toward the young and financially stretched. For instance, 25% of Gen Z foresaw difficulty meeting their obligations compared to only 9% of Baby Boomers. Similarly, those with low incomes were more than twice as likely to anticipate bill payment struggles (22%) than high earners at 9%.