General · 20 February 2026
UK government surplus hits record £30.4bn in January
The Office for National Statistics reported a £30.4 billion surplus for January 2026, the largest monthly figure since records began in 1993. This total is nearly double the amount recorded a year earlier, driven by a 69% jump in capital gains tax receipts. Income tax and National Insurance payments also rose significantly, strengthening public finances just weeks before the Chancellor delivers the Spring Statement.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs