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New Report Shows York Faces One Of The Highest Debt Levels In England

Drawing on a dataset of nearly 300,000 insolvent UK consumers currently struggling with their personal finances, Aryza’s new UK Debt Statistics report found that Preston has the highest level of average personal debt in England, standing at £19,473. York has ranked fourteenth with an average debt level of £18,144.

This UK wide report is the second in a series of regular reports, designed to provide updates on the state of the nation’s finances and ensure the industry is taking action to support consumers.

The same study found that in Q3 of 2021, the average debt level across the UK stood at £17,823. This is compared to £15,924 in Q1, an increase of +11.93%.

The vast majority of the locations in the top 20 debt levels are found in the Midlands or North England. Luton and Harrow are the only locations in the South of England.

1. Preston - £19,473
2. Cleveland / Teeside - £19,345
3. Halifax - £19,245
4. Wakefield - £19,117
5. Darlington - £18,966
6. Derby - £18,919
7. Bradford - £18,832
8. Northampton - £18,694
9. Bolton - £18,486
10. Warrington - £18,474
11. Newcastle upon Tyne - £18,437
12. Luton - £18,393
13. Hull - £18,175
14. York - £18,144
15. Crewe - £18,139
16. Oldham - £18,091
17. Sunderland - £18,057
18. Liverpool - £18,047
19. Harrow - £18,035
20. Sheffield - £17,976

Currently, men across the UK have an average debt of £19,650 and women have an average debt of £16,287.

1 in 5 individuals were found to be struggling to manage their energy and utility bills.

The report also shows an increase in debt across the younger age brackets, with those aged 30-39 experiencing an increase of +16.32%. Those aged 60 - 69 continue to have the highest level of average debt per person across the UK, standing at £20,644.

Colin Brown, CEO at Aryza, said:
“England is facing an incredibly difficult time, and many people are clearly struggling to manage their finances as the cost of living continues to rise. While many were able to take advantage of the Government’s support schemes, such as the job retention scheme, payment breaks or mortgage holidays, the end of these initiatives has contributed to debt levels rising once again.

“Soaring utility bill prices and uncertainty in the job market have also played their part in creating an extremely challenging financial environment.”