Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) has released its UK Credit Card Market Report for September 2025, highlighting ongoing financial strain for households. The report reveals a 3.8% year-on-year decline in credit card spending, marking the largest drop in recent months and signaling subdued consumer confidence. Meanwhile, average active card balances have risen by 4.5% compared to September 2024, continuing an upward trend since May 2025. Payments towards balances remain weak, with only a modest 1% monthly increase, leaving payment rates 6.5% lower than the previous year. The data also shows that cardholders with longstanding accounts and accumulated debt are falling into deeper delinquency, particularly those with three missed payments. These trends underscore the pressures on household finances following the Autumn Budget.