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General · 19 June 2026

UK deficit reaches £23.3 billion in May

UK deficit reaches £23.3 billion in May

Photo by Daniel Höhe on Unsplash

Higher borrowing costs could add pressure to public finances as debt payments climbed sharply. Britain recorded a budget shortfall of £23.3 billion in May, 30% above the figure a year earlier and well above economists' expectations of £18.5 billion, according to data released on Friday. For the first two months of the financial year, public sector net borrowing reached £46.3 billion, up 24% from 2025.

Reported by Reuters · How we write briefs

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