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Deficit, national debt and government borrowing - how has it changed since 1946? Deficit, national debt and government borrowing - how has it changed since 1946?
(4 months later)
Britain's budget deficit is down on the same time last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Britain's government deficit is at a record high. Public sector net borrowing excluding financial sector interventions – the government's preferred measure – widened to £14.41bn from £14.37bn in August 2011 – and is now the largest it has been since monthly records began in 1993.
But it's not real - rather the numbers are flattered by the transfer of the Royal Mail pension fund to the public sector last month. This swelled receipts by £28bn and resulted in a £16.5bn surplus for the exchequer in April. The official release shows that the deficit for the tax year to date to £31bn. But, stripping out the transfer of Royal Mail pension assets, the deficit has actually widened 22% to £59bn so far this year.
Excluding the effects of the pension fund transfer, the deficit in the first month of the 2012-13 financial year was £11.5bn – higher than the City had been expecting. A Treasury spokesman said: "today's data shows that in 2011-12 we cut borrowing by almost £12.5bn."
The latest data shows Government borrowing, with data all the way back to the 1940s. All political parties have faced their fair share of debt through the years - almost as if the economic climate has its own life independent of who is managing it. We have the complete set of data on Government borrowing, all the way back to the 1940s. All political parties have faced their fair share of debt through the years - almost as if the economic climate has its own life independent of who is managing it.
What is the deficit? When the ONS talks about the deficit, they take a simple measure - the gap between what's coming into the government in taxes and receipts versus what's being spent. Most commentators look at net borrowing as the deficit figure, because it includes investment spending. It's different to the national debt - which is the total the country owes.What is the deficit? When the ONS talks about the deficit, they take a simple measure - the gap between what's coming into the government in taxes and receipts versus what's being spent. Most commentators look at net borrowing as the deficit figure, because it includes investment spending. It's different to the national debt - which is the total the country owes.
So this month the budget is in deficit. Here are the key facts for Feburary - if you exclude the temporary effects of the financial interventions in the banks: So last month the budget was in deficit. Here are the key facts for August - if you exclude the temporary effects of the financial interventions in the banks:
• The public sector current budget was in deficit by £12.4bn; this is a £4.4bn higher deficit than in April 2011, when there was a deficit of £8.0bn;
/>• public sector net borrowing was -£16.5bn (a surplus); this is £25.6bn lower net borrowing than in April 2011, when net borrowing was £9.1bn;
/>• public sector net debt at the end of April 2012 was £1006.3bn (64.8% of GDP). This compares with £909.6bn (60.6% of GDP) at the end of April 2011 		• The public sector current budget in August was in deficit (not including investment) by £13.2bn; this is higher deficit than in August 2011, when it stood at £12.7bn;
/>• public sector net borrowing was £14.4bn; in August 2011, it was £14.365bn;
/>• public sector net debt at the end of April 2012 was over a trillion at £1,039.5bn (64.8% of GDP). This compares with £909.6bn (66.1% of GDP)
If you include the financial interventions, the big headline figure is that: If you include the financial interventions, the big headline figure would take net borrowing to £12.4bn in August - and the net debt to over two trillion to £2,140.7bn.
• the public sector current budget was in deficit by £10.0bn; this is a £4.9bn higher deficit than in April 2011, when there was a deficit of £5.2bn;Public Sector Finances, April 2012 | 22 May 2012
• public sector net borrowing was -£18.8bn ( a surplus); this is £25.0bn lower net borrowing than in April 2011, when net borrowing was £6.2bn;
• public sector net debt at the end of April 2012 was £2,293.9bn (147.7% of GDP). This compares with £2,245.3bn (149.7% of GDP) as at the end of April 2011
The ONS data below shows monthly, quarterly and annual debt and deficit - what can you do with it?The ONS data below shows monthly, quarterly and annual debt and deficit - what can you do with it?
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