Storbritannien - Statsskuld

Public sector net borrowing in the UK increased to GBP 10.51 billion in October 2019 from GBP 8.24 billion in the same month last year, above market expectations of GBP 8.60 billion. Excluding public-sector banks, the public sector had to borrow GBP 11.2 billion, GBP 2.3 billion more than in October 2018. It was the highest October borrowing for five years, as revenue from corporation tax posted the biggest drop in four years (-6.2 percent). Still, overall revenues were up 2.4 percent, while day-to-day government spending increased 3.1 percent, on the back of staff costs and spending on other goods and services. Public sector net debt totalled 80.4 percent of GDP in October, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points year-on-year.

The budget deficit in the UK widened to GBP 8.7 billion in September 2019 from GBP 8.2 billion in the same month of the previous year and compared with market expectations of a GBP 8.8 billion gap. It was the largest budget shortfall since April, driven by an increase in government expenditure on goods and services as well as social benefits. Meanwhile, tax receipts continued to grow robustly. Excluding state-controlled banks, the public sector net borrowing totalled 9.4 billion, GBP 0.6 billion more than in September 2018 and marking the first increase for a September month in five years. Borrowing in the current financial year-to-date was GBP 40.3 billion, up 21 percent from the same period in 2018 and was the first year-to-date borrowing rise in five years. Debt went up by GBP 27.3 billion from a year ago to GBP 1.79 trillion at the end of September, equivalent to 80.3 percent of GDP compared to 81.5 percent a year earlier.

The budget deficit in the UK narrowed to GBP 5.8 billion in August 2019 from GBP 6.3 billion in the same month of the previous year and compared to market expectations of a GBP 6.65 billion gap. Excluding state-controlled banks, the public sector net borrowing was GBP 6.4 billion, GBP 0.5 billion less than in August 2018 and below forecasts of GBP 7.15 billion. Borrowing in the current financial year-to-date was GBP 31.2 billion, up 28 percent from the same period in 2018.

The budget surplus in the UK narrowed to GBP 2.0 billion in July 2019 from GBP 4.2 billion in the same month of the previous year and compared to market expectations of a GBP 2.65 billion surplus. Excluding state-controlled banks, the public sector had a borrowing surplus of GBP 1.3 billion, GBP 2.2 billion less surplus than in July 2018. Tax receipts were slightly up, while government spending increased 4.2 percent on the back of purchases of goods and services and staff costs. For the first four months of the financial year starting in April, Britain has borrowed GBP 16.0 billion, up 60 percent compared with a year ago.

The budget deficit in the UK widened to GBP 6.50 billion in June of 2019 from GBP 2.68 billion in the same month of the previous year and compared to market expectations of a GBP 3.20 billion shortfall. Excluding state-controlled banks, the gap rose to GBP 7.15 billion from GBP 3.32 a year ago, the highest June borrowing since 2015. Borrowing in the latest full financial year (April 2019 to June 2019) totalled GBP 17.9 billion, more GBP 4.5 billion than in the same period last year; remaining the lowest borrowing for that period since 2007. Debt went up by GBP 27.0 billion from a year earlier to GBP 1,818.1 billion, equivalent to 83.1 percent of gross domestic product.

The UK government posted a deficit of GBP 4.46 billion in May 2019 from GBP 3.50 billion in the same month of the previous year and compared to market expectations of a GBP 5.10 billion shortfall. Excluding state-controlled banks, the gap rose to GBP 5.11 billion from GBP 4.15 a year ago, remaining the lowest for a May month since 2002. Borrowing in the latest full financial year (April 2018 to March 2019) totalled GBP 24.0 billion, down by GBP 17.8 billion from the previous year, the lowest financial year borrowing in 17 years. Debt went up by GBP 20.5 billion from a year earlier to GBP 1,806.1 billion, equivalent to 82.9 percent of GDP.