GDP Quarterly National Accounts: 2026 Quarter 1 (January to March)

Gross disposable household income (GDHI)

Gross disposable household income (GDHI) is a measure of how much money the population has for spending or saving after earnings and transfers such as pensions, taxes and benefits are accounted for. GDHI includes income earned in other areas of the UK or from abroad (for example, offshore workers’ income or income from overseas investments) which are not part of onshore GDP.

In 2026 Quarter 1, gross disposable household income is estimated to have increased by 1.2% compared to 2025 Quarter 1 in nominal terms. The largest part of disposable income is income from employment (known as compensation of employees) which is up by 5.0% compared to 2025 quarter 1, while social benefits received, including pension income, have increased by 4.3%. The largest outgoings which reduce disposable income are social contributions (including pension contributions) and taxes on income and wealth, which have increased over the year by 11.5% and 11.6% respectively. The ONS has indicated that changes to the tax-free allowance for capital gains tax has contributed to this increase.

We also present estimates of GDHI per head, which is calculated by dividing gross disposable household income by the total Scottish population. This can be used as another indicator of prosperity or economic welfare alongside or instead of GDP per head. In 2026 Quarter 1, gross disposable household income per head increased by 1.2% compared to 2025 Quarter 1.

Household Saving Ratio

The household saving ratio is estimated at 5.5% in the latest quarter, down from 7.6% at the same point last year. The savings ratio has decreased because households’ total resources from disposable income and pension fund adjustments have increased by 1.3%, which is lower than the 3.6% increase in household spending over the last 12 months.

The household saving ratio represents funds which are available for adding to savings, including into pension funds, or paying off debt. It is not a measure of actual deposits made to savings accounts, or of savings accounts balances, but is a useful indicator of trends in overall household sector finances.