Exploring data from the Economic Wellbeing Explorer

The Economic Wellbeing Explorer (EWE) has now been refreshed with data up to 30th November 2025. Drawing on de-identified banking data from 5 million GB banking customers, the Explorer sheds light on national, regional and local patterns in economic wellbeing through three key indicators: 

• Overdrawn accounts: the proportion of people who become overdrawn on 2+ occasions in a month 
• Living beyond means: spending 120% or more of monthly income 
• Low emergency resilience: account balances falling below £100 on 2+ occasions in a month 

A snapshot across the nations shows similar levels across regions: 

Differences across the three nations

Welsh people in the sample had the highest rate of low emergency resilience, with 38.19% of account holders having less than £100 in their bank accounts on two or more occasions in a single month, though this did decrease month on month. Scotland had the lowest rate of this with 34.8% of account holders having low emergency resilience but also had a slight month on month increase in low emergency resilience.

There was a decrease across all of Great Britain in people living beyond their means. Account holders in England had the highest rate, with 10.54% of people spending 120% of income in the previous 5 weeks but had a 2.56% decrease. Scottish account holders had a decrease of 2.07% bringing them to 10.41% and Welsh account holders had a 1.99% decrease bringing them to 9.72% of people living beyond their means—the lowest rate across Great Britain.

Overall Scottish people had the lowest percentage of overdrawn accounts, sitting at 16.03% while Welsh account holders have the highest percentage at 18.17%. However within these differences Scotland saw an increase and Wales and England saw a decrease.

Scotland has been the only region to see a [low] uptick in overdrawn accounts and low emergency resilience with a 0.05% and 0.17% increase respectively. While this is minor, the pairing of these increased could be an indication of an increase in holiday spending which we may see more impact of in December’s data. The decreases across England and Wales have been smaller than previous months which may support this. 

Scotland Insights

In Scotland there is low variation across regions with people living beyond their means, ranging from 10-11% but more variability in low emergency resilience.

The Highlands and Islands have the lowest rate of low emergency resilience at 29% and West Central Scotland has the highest at 39%, a difference of 10%. Similarly, these locations have the lowest and highest rates of overdrawn accounts but with less variation (14% to 18%).

England Insights

In England there is low variation across regions with people living beyond their means, ranging from 9-12% but more variability in low emergency resilience.

With 11% difference between them, North East England has the highest rate of account holders with less than £100 in their accounts on a regular basis at 44% compared to the lowest rates of 33% in South East and South West England. Similarly for overdrawn accounts, North East England has the highest rate of 19% and South West England has the lowest at 15%.

Wales Insights

In Wales there is low variation across regions with people living beyond their means, ranging from 9-10% but more variability in low emergency resilience.

North Wales has the lowest rate of low emergency resilience at 35% and South East Wales has the highest at 42%, a difference of 7%. Similarly, these locations have the lowest and highest rates of overdrawn accounts but with less variation of 17% to 19%.

On their own, these indicators highlight seasonal patterns and shifts following policy or economic changes. Combined with contextual data, they help reveal the underlying drivers of poverty, inequality and financial vulnerability in different parts of Great Britain.