UK November Borrowing At Record On Energy Bill Support Payouts, Debt Costs

RTTNews | 960 days ago
UK November Borrowing At Record On Energy Bill Support Payouts, Debt Costs

(RTTNews) - Despite a rise in tax receipts, British government budget deficit hit the highest November level reflecting disbursements on energy support scheme and high debt servicing cost.

Public sector net borrowing, excluding banks, increased by GBP 13.9 billion from last year to GBP 22.0 billion. This was the biggest November deficit since monthly records began in 1993.

Borrowing increased despite a GBP 2.2 billion rise in tax receipts. Meanwhile, the central government debt interest payable surged GBP 2.4 billion to GBP 7.3 billion in November. This was the highest debt servicing cost since monthly records began in April 1997. Within this, an underlying GBP 4.3 billion reflected the impact of inflation.

Social assistance payments grew GBP 3.3 billion to GBP 13.2 billion, largely because of an increase in the cost of living payments. The government has paid GBP 1.9 billion under the energy bills support scheme in November.

Nonetheless, in the financial year to November, PSNB excluding banks decreased by GBP 7.6 billion to GBP 105.4 billion. Still this was the fourth highest financial year to November borrowing since monthly records began in 1993.

The Office for Budget Responsibility forecast the public sector could borrow an additional GBP 71.6 billion by the end of March 2023.

At the end of November, public sector net debt excluding public sector banks totaled GBP 2,477.5 billion, or around 98.7 percent of gross domestic product.

read more
Bank Of England Cuts Rate In Tight Vote

Bank Of England Cuts Rate In Tight Vote

The Bank of England reduced its benchmark interest rate in a close call on Thursday suggesting that the monetary easing cycle is nearing an end as policymakers became more concerned about persistent inflation. The Monetary Policy Committee, headed by BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, voted 5-4 to cut the bank rate by 25 basis points to 4.00 percent.
RTTNews | 3h 55min ago
UK House Prices Rise At Fastest Pace In 6 Months

UK House Prices Rise At Fastest Pace In 6 Months

UK house prices grew at the fastest pace in six months in July as the property market started to stabilize following the end of the stamp duty holiday, data from the mortgage lender Halifax showed on Thursday. House prices increased by more-than-expected 0.4 percent in July from June. Prices were expected to grow at a steady pace of 0.1 percent in July. Moreover, this was the fastest growth sinc
RTTNews | 9h 49min ago
Downturn In UK Construction Activity Deepens

Downturn In UK Construction Activity Deepens

The UK construction sector downturn deepened in July as volumes of work carried out across all sectors decreased markedly, survey results from S&P Global showed on Wednesday. The headline construction Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 44.3 in July from 48.8 in June. The score signaled the sharpest contraction since May 2020.
RTTNews | 1 day ago
UK House Price Growth Accelerates In July

UK House Price Growth Accelerates In July

UK house prices grew at a faster pace in July reflecting steadily improving housing affordability and moderate fall in mortgage rates, Nationwide Building Society said on Friday. House prices increased 2.4 percent on a yearly basis in July, following June's 2.1 percent increase. Prices were expected to climb at a steady pace of 2.1 percent in July.
RTTNews | 6 days ago
UK Mortgage Approvals At 3-Month High

UK Mortgage Approvals At 3-Month High

UK mortgage approvals rose to a three-month high in June and consumer credit increased notably, official data revealed on Tuesday. Approvals for house purchases increased to a three-month high of 64,167 in June from 63,288 in May, the Bank of England reported. Approvals were above economists' forecast of 63,000.
RTTNews | 9 days ago
UK Retail Sales Rebound As Warm Weather Boosts Spending

UK Retail Sales Rebound As Warm Weather Boosts Spending

UK retail sales recovered in June as warm weather boosted consumer spending but consumer sentiment weakened amid fears of possible tax rate hikes, data showed Friday. Retail sales grew 0.9 percent on a monthly basis, in contrast to the revised 2.8 percent drop in May, the Office for National Statistics reported. However, this was weaker than economists' forecast of 1.2 percent gain.
RTTNews | 13 days ago
UK Private Sector Growth Moderates On Services Activity

UK Private Sector Growth Moderates On Services Activity

UK private sector output continued to grow in July but the pace of expansion moderated as services activity lost momentum, flash survey results from S&P Global revealed on Thursday. The composite output index slid to 51.0 in July from 52.0 in June. The reading was also above the forecast of 51.9.
RTTNews | 14 days ago
UK Budget Deficit Exceeds Estimate In June

UK Budget Deficit Exceeds Estimate In June

The UK budget deficit widened more than estimated in June on higher debt servicing costs, which has added pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to raise taxes at the autumn budget. Public sector net borrowing rose by GBP 6.6 billion from the previous year to GBP 20.7 billion in June, the Office for National Statistics reported Tuesday.
RTTNews | 16 days ago