Fri, 21 Nov 2025

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 Government borrowing for October higher than expected

Borrowing was more than £2bn higher than expected in October, latest official figures show.

* UK government borrowing was £17.4bn in October, above analysts' forecasts of £15bn.
* Borrowing was £1.8bn lower than the same month last year, but still the third-highest October figure since 1993.
* In the financial year to October, borrowing was £116.8bn, £9bn more than the same period in 2024.
* Retail sales fell by 1.1% in October, with supermarkets, clothing stores and online retailers all seeing slower sales.
* Consumer confidence has declined, suggesting that consumers are "not exactly chipper at the moment".
* The government's borrowing figures for the year to date have exceeded forecasts from the OBR, by around £10bn.
* The chancellor needs to find more money in her 26 November Budget to meet her self-imposed rules for government finances, which has a £20bn gap.
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