UK public sector net debt passed GBP 3 trillion in September 2026

The cash balance and the ratio changed in different directions

ONS estimated net debt at GBP 3,005.0 billion at the September 2026 month-end, up GBP 91.7 billion from September 2025. The ratio moved from 94.7% to 94.0%. The agency says nominal GDP grew faster than net debt over that comparison period. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Each observation is a month-end balance

KSE6 reports net debt as a stock in pounds at the end of a month. The table pairs each stock with the matching HF6X percentage. Public sector net borrowing in the release is a flow during a period and uses a separate series. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

The boundary excludes public sector banks

The two series exclude the banks classified to the public sector during the period stated in the ONS release. The bulletin also publishes public sector net financial liabilities, which includes a wider set of financial assets and liabilities. Each measure has its own balance sheet coverage. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

The latest estimates can be revised

ONS describes its September net debt figure as provisional. In the same release it revised its estimate for August to GBP 2,981.2 billion. The table uses the values published for the September release and preserves the distinction between the release vintage and later revisions. Source 1 Source 2

Sources

• ONS public sector finances, UK, September 2026
• ONS series KSE6 net debt excluding public sector banks
• ONS series HF6X net debt excluding public sector banks as a share of GDP