(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 20 mar - Borrowing, the difference between total public sector spending and income in the UK, was 14.3 billion pounds in February, 2.2 billion more than in February 2025, largely because of the timing of central government debt interest payable, and the second highest February borrowing since monthly records began in 1993, behind that of 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Borrowing in the financial year to February 2026 was 125.9 billion pounds; this was 11.9 billion or 8.7% less than in the same 11-month period a year ago, but still the fourth-highest April to February borrowing on record, it added.

Borrowing in the financial year to February 2026 was provisionally estimated at 4.1% of gross domestic product, 0.6 percentage points less than in the same 11-month period a year ago.

The current budget deficit (borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities) was 5.1 billion pounds in February, bringing the total current budget deficit in the financial year to February 2026, to 62.1 billion pounds, which is 16.7 billion, or 21.1% less than in the same 11-month period a year ago.

Public sector net debt excluding public sector banks was provisionally estimated at 93.1% of GDP at the end of February 2026 and remains at levels last seen in the early 1960s.

Public sector net financial liabilities excluding public sector banks were provisionally estimated at 82.5% of GDP at the end of February 2026, 10.6 percentage points less than for public sector net debt.

Central government net cash requirement (excluding UK Asset Resolution Ltd and Network Rail Ltd) - the additional cash needed to be raised from the financial markets to finance activities - was 9.1 billion pounds in February 2026, 0.6.

billion more than in February 2025.

(RADIOCOR) 20-03-26 08:51:13 (0141) 5 NNNN