Asda’s latest figures suggest the lowest-income 20% of UK households are an estimated £76 a week short of covering their essential living costs.
Meanwhile, households in the highest-income group have an average of £940 left each week after tax and essentials.
The figures, published on 27 October 2026, show just how different people’s financial situations can be, even though household incomes are rising overall.
How much money do households have left each week?
The Asda Income Tracker, produced by economics consultancy Cebr, looks at how much money UK households have left after tax and essential spending.
It splits households into five equally sized groups based on their income.
For September 2026, the estimated weekly amounts were:
- Lowest-income 20%: £76 short
- Next 20%: £11 left
- Middle 20%: £93 left
- Next 20%: £295 left
- Highest-income 20%: £940 left
That’s a difference of £1,016 a week between the highest and lowest income groups.
It’s also worth looking at the second-lowest group. These households have just £11 a week left, on average, for spending outside the essentials covered by the report.
Skint Dad says:
The £76 shortfall is worrying enough, but what stands out to us is that the next group of households has just £11 a week left.
That’s not much of a safety net when an unexpected bill comes along.
We often talk about finding ways to save money, but there’s only so much you can cut back when the basics are taking up nearly everything coming in.
What does the £76 shortfall actually mean?
It doesn’t mean everyone on a low income is £76 short each week.
The figure is an estimate for the lowest-income fifth of UK households, based on average income and living costs.
Cebr calculates how much money households receive, takes away estimated taxes and then subtracts essential spending.
That includes things such as groceries, gas, electricity, transport and housing costs, including rent or mortgage interest.
For the lowest-income group, the calculations show that essential costs are greater than the money coming in.
Some households will have a bigger shortfall, others a smaller one, and some may have enough to cover their bills.
The tracker uses official statistics and estimates rather than checking individual bank accounts, so it can’t tell you exactly how much money your own household should have left.
Why are households still struggling if incomes are rising?
This is one of the most telling findings in Asda’s report.
Household incomes increased by 3.8% over the year to September, but essential spending rose by 4.3%.
In other words, the cost of the basics was rising faster than household incomes.
Across the UK, the average household had £261 a week left after tax and essentials, £6.15 more than a year earlier.
But the improvement hasn’t been shared equally.
For the lowest-income group, the £76 weekly shortfall is £3.66 worse than it was in September 2025.
The second-lowest group has £1.27 less left each week than a year ago, while middle-income households are better off by just 58p.
Higher energy, housing and transport costs have been eating into household budgets, leaving some families with little benefit from rising incomes.
What can you do if your essentials cost more than your income?
The £76 figure doesn’t tell you what your own household needs, but it’s worth knowing how much you have left after paying for the basics.
A simple way to check is to add up your household’s take-home income, then subtract essential costs such as rent or mortgage payments, Council Tax, food, energy and travel.
If those bills regularly cost more than you have coming in, it’s worth checking what help might be available.
You can start by checking whether you’re missing out on benefits, especially if your income or circumstances have changed.
If you’re worried about missing payments, contact your bill providers as early as possible. Our guide on what to do when you can’t pay your bills explains where to get free help and what steps to take.
For some households, cutting back on extras simply won’t be enough when the essentials already cost more than their income.
