Borrowing – the difference between total public sector spending and income – was £24.3 billion in April 2026; this was £4.9 billion (25.1%) more than in April 2025, and £3.4 billion more than the £20.9 billion forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Borrowing in the financial year ending (FYE) March 2026 was provisionally estimated at £129.0 billion; this was £22.8 billion (15.0%) less than in the FYE March 2025, and £3.7 billion less than the £132.7 billion forecast by the OBR. We have reduced our initial estimate of borrowing in the FYE March 2026 by £3.0 billion since our publication on 23 April ... (full story)