UK borrowing rises to £24.5 billion in September
ONS measured public sector net borrowing at £24.5 billion in September, 7.7% higher than a year earlier.
Event / data period: 2026-09
Published: · Updated:
The public sector borrowed £24.5 billion net in September 2026, £1.8 billion or 7.7% more than in September 2025. Borrowing from April to September was £97.8 billion, 4.3% lower than in the same period last year but £6.0 billion above the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast.
Central government debt-interest payments reached £10.9 billion in September, up 16.6% year on year. Public sector net debt was provisionally estimated to have exceeded £3 trillion at the end of September for the first time; ONS says this estimate may be revised as more data arrive. Central and local government borrowing were £21.2 billion and £2.9 billion respectively.
Data
Public borrowing and debt interest
September 2026 borrowing and debt interest; financial-year total through September.
| 24.5 | 97.8 | 10.9 |
Methodology
ONS measures are in £ billion; year-on-year and forecast comparisons are described in the text.
Updated:
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