Headline news

bar chart in document icon

Supplementary forecast information on changes in public sector net debt

23 April 2025

Since the publication of our March 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook (EFO) we have received a request for further information on our forecast for changes in public sector net debt. We have published this new supplementary forecast information below and on the March 2025 EFO page.

Line chart showing cumulative public sector net borrowing

Initial estimate of 2024-25 borrowing above forecast

23 April 2025

This morning’s ONS release provides an initial estimate for 2024-25 public sector net borrowing of £151.9 billion. This is £20.7 billion above the previous year and £14.6 billion above our March forecast. As the ONS state, this initial estimate should be seen as provisional and is typically revised in future. However, the current difference with…

Working paper icon

Publication of working paper No.22: A new UK overlapping generations model

10 April 2025

In this paper, we present a new overlapping generations model of the UK economy. It takes a detailed approach to real-world trends around demographics, life-cycle behaviour and differences within and between generations, all in a general equilibrium setting. Calibrated to match UK economic data and reflect key features of our tax, spending and welfare systems,…

Other news

efo icon

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…

bar chart in document icon

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.

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…

Line chart showing cumulative public sector net borrowing

Revisions push year-to-date borrowing above forecast

This morning’s ONS release shows that borrowing in the first eight months of 2024-25 totalled £113.2 billion. This is £0.4 billion below the same period last year but £2.0 billion above the monthly profile consistent with our October forecast. This difference reflects upward revisions to borrowing by local authorities and public corporations, which is only…

efo icon

Spring 2025 forecast date announced

The Chancellor has announced that the Spring forecast  will take place on Wednesday 26 March 2025. Our latest outlook for the economy and public finances will be released on the same day.

Welsh taxes outlook

Welsh taxes outlook – December 2024

In accordance with the fiscal framework agreed by the Welsh and UK Governments, we are formally commissioned by the Welsh Government to produce independent forecasts for devolved Welsh taxes alongside its Draft Budgets. On 10 December we published our forecasts for devolved Welsh taxes in our 2024 Welsh taxes outlook (WTO). The report is available…

bar chart in document icon

Supplementary forecast information on our long-term fiscal projections

Since the publication of our September 2024 Fiscal risks and sustainability (FRS) report, we have received a request for further detail on our long-term fiscal projections. We have published this new supplementary forecast information below and on the September 2024 FRS page.