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Working at the OBR- the UK's independent economic and fiscal forecaster

Working at the OBR

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work at the OBR? Bronwyn, Imogen, and Harriet share their experiences as analysts and working in communications.

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March 2025 forecast timetable and details regarding the upcoming EFO

On 16 December 2024 the Chancellor commissioned us to publish our latest outlook for the economy and public finances on Wednesday 26 March. We have now agreed the timetable for the forecast process and published the detail below. Update on 12 March: Financial market assumptions and the incorporation of outturn data The final pre-measures fiscal…

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Supplementary forecast information on our FRS 2024 migration analysis

We have released additional information on the methodology and assumptions underlying our migration analysis in our 2024 Fiscal risks and sustainability report (FRS). We have published this new supplementary forecast information below and on the September 2024 FRS page.

Line chart showing cumulative public sector net borrowing

Lower-than-expected January receipts push borrowing further above forecast

This morning’s ONS release estimates that borrowing in the first ten months of 2024-25 totalled £118.2 billion. This is £11.6 billion above the same period last year and £12.8 billion above the monthly profile consistent with our October forecast. The year-to-date shortfall against forecast is driven by lower-than-expected receipts, particularly self-assessed tax receipts and corporation…

Welsh taxes outlook

Welsh taxes outlook – February 2025

We have published an update to the Welsh taxes outlook with new forecasts for land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax receipts, alongside evaluations of our previous forecasts including for the Welsh rates of income tax. The report is available in English and Welsh. Welsh taxes outlook – December 2024 Rhagolwg trethi Cymreig – Rhagfyr…

External review of the OBR published

Third external review of the OBR published

The OBR’s non-executive members commissioned Laura van Geest, former head of the Netherlands Bureau of Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) to lead the third external review of the work of the OBR in May 2024. The review concludes that “Over the last five years, the OBR has successfully navigated a series of unprecedented economic and fiscal…

Bar and line chart showing cumulative public sector net borrowing

Year-to-date borrowing remains above forecast due to higher-than-expected local authority borrowing

This morning’s ONS release estimates that borrowing in the first nine months of 2024-25 totalled £129.9 billion. This is £4.1 billion above the monthly profile consistent with our October forecast. This upside surprise against profile reflects higher-than-expected borrowing by local authorities and public corporations, with central government borrowing – the largest sector – slightly below…

Economic and fiscal outlook October 2024- Box 3.3: The long-run impact of public investment on potential output: scenarios

Public investment and growth

We explore alternative scenarios for the impact of public investment on economic growth and how they relate to our central forecast in October.