Polish consumer and industrial debt climbs amid slowing job market

Data from BIG InfoMonitor and BIK show that overdue consumer obligations in Poland reached 81.5 billion zł in the first quarter of 2026, affecting nearly 2.4 million people. The average debtor owes about 34 thousand zł, and the number of late payments rose by 1,322 entities, a 0.1 % increase from the start of the year. At the same time, registered unemployment rose to 6.1 % in March, with regional rates ranging from 3.8 % to 9.7 %.

Industrial arrears also hit a record, with sectors such as food processing, metal products and meat production accumulating over 8.6 billion zł in overdue debt by the end of March 2026, up 22.7 % year‑on‑year. The average industrial firm now carries about 328 thousand zł of unpaid liabilities. While overall industrial production grew, the financial strain on firms remains significant, highlighting a disconnect between rising output and cash‑flow health.