Debt as a share of GDP
Recent trend: rising94.9% of GDP
Net debt measured against the size of the economy.
Source: ONS, Public sector finances. 30 June 2026.
Public finance health
Debt is only part of the picture. Here is a wider set of indicators, each showing its recent direction of travel.
Public finances
Borrowing as a share of GDP
Recent trend: rising4.2% of GDP
Annual public sector net borrowing relative to the economy.
Source: OBR / ONS. 31 March 2026.
Debt interest
Recent trend: rising3.6% of GDP
The cost of servicing debt, relative to the economy. About £110 billion a year.
Source: OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook March 2026. 31 March 2026.
Tax burden
Recent trend: rising36.3% of GDP
Total taxes as a share of the economy. Forecast to keep rising to the highest level since records began in 1948.
Source: OBR. 31 March 2026.
Government revenue
Recent trend: rising£1,232 billion per year
Total money the government receives, mostly from taxes.
Source: ONS / OBR. 31 March 2026.
Government spending
Recent trend: rising£1,360 billion per year
Total money the government spends on services, benefits, investment, and debt interest.
Source: HM Treasury / OBR. 31 March 2026.
The wider economy
Inflation (CPI)
Recent trend: falling2.6% per year
The rate at which consumer prices are rising over the year. Eased to 2.6% in June, down from 2.8% the month before.
Source: ONS, Consumer price inflation, UK: June 2026. 30 June 2026.
Unemployment rate
Recent trend: stable4.9% of workforce
The share of people who want to work and are looking for a job but cannot find one. Up 0.2 percentage points on a year earlier, but down 0.1 on the previous quarter.
Source: ONS, Labour market overview, UK: July 2026. 31 May 2026.
GDP growth
Recent trend: stable1.1% per year
How fast the economy is growing, after adjusting for inflation. The 2026 forecast, down from 1.4% in 2025.
Source: OBR / ONS, GDP. 31 March 2026.
Productivity (output per hour)
Recent trend: stable0.4% growth per year
How much is produced per hour worked, versus a year earlier. Weak productivity growth has been a long-running UK challenge.
Source: ONS, Productivity. 31 March 2026.
Show all indicators as a table
| Indicator | Latest | Trend | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt as a share of GDP | 94.9 % of GDP | rising | provisional |
| Borrowing as a share of GDP | 4.2 % of GDP | rising | estimated |
| Debt interest | 3.6 % of GDP | rising | official |
| Inflation (CPI) | 2.6 % per year | falling | official |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9 % of workforce | stable | provisional |
| GDP growth | 1.1 % per year | stable | estimated |
| Productivity (output per hour) | 0.4 % growth per year | stable | provisional |
| Tax burden | 36.3 % of GDP | rising | estimated |
| Government revenue | 1,232 £ billion per year | rising | estimated |
| Government spending | 1,360 £ billion per year | rising | estimated |