Public sector finance

How the relationship between UK public sector monthly income and expenditure leads to changes in deficit and debt.

Spotlight

£ 25,560 million

2023 APR

Public sector net borrowing (PSNB ex) in April 2023 was £25.6 billion, £11.9 billion more than in April 2022 and the second-highest April borrowing since monthly records began in 1993, with the growth in receipts being exceeded by the additional costs of the energy support schemes, increases in benefit payments and higher debt interest payable.
Central government debt interest payable was £9.8 billion in April 2023, £3.1 billion more than April 2022 and the highest April figure since monthly records began in 1997; the recent large movements in interest payable are because of the effect of Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation on index-linked gilts.
Since our March 2023 publication, we have revised down our initial estimate of PSNB ex in the financial year ending (FYE) March 2023 by £2.1 billion to £137.1 billion, now £15.3 billion less than the £152.4 billion forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

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Public sector finances time series

Time series data for public sector finances and important fiscal aggregates, based on the new European System of Accounts 2010: ESA10 framework.
Public sector finances tables 1 to 10: Appendix A

The data underlying the public sector finances statistical bulletin are presented in the tables PSA 1 to 10.
Public sector current receipts: Appendix D

A breakdown of UK public sector income by latest month, financial year-to-date and full financial year, with comparisons with the same period in the previous financial year.
Public sector finances borrowing by sub-sector

Public sector finances analytical tables (PSAT) showing transactions related to borrowing by sub-sector. Total Managed Expenditure (TME) is also provided.
Government debt and deficit

Summary, reconciliation and revisions information on UK government deficit and debt figures by calendar and financial year.

Public sector finances, UK: April 2023

How the relationship between UK public sector monthly income and expenditure leads to changes in deficit and debt.
UK government debt and deficit: December 2022

Quarterly estimates of UK government debt and deficit.

Recent and upcoming changes to public sector finance statistics

Recent and upcoming changes to our public sector finance statistics, including the inclusion of Bulb Energy Limited, pensions data updates, and impact on government spending and debt.
Alignment between public sector finances and national accounts

Explanation of the differences between public sector net borrowing estimates published in the public sector finances and those in the national accounts.
Wider measures of public sector net debt

An update to previous wider measures of government debt articles, to support the release of the latest supplementary information on contingent liabilities and other potential obligations outside the public sector finances reporting framework.
National Accounts articles

National accounts improvements to mixed income estimates.

Includes population, identity, housing, people in or out of work, education and health.