Yahoo Finance Inflation fuels jump in government debt costs as borrowing hits £4.9bn
Interest payments on government debt jumped by almost 40 per cent last month as rocketing inflation continues to add to state borrowing, according to official data.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said government borrowing hit £4.9bn in July.
It is significantly ahead of the predictions of analysts, who had forecast £2.8bn in borrowing last month, and brings the total budget deficit for the year so far to £55bn.
Public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks was £4.9 billion in July 2022.
This was £0.8 billion less than in July 2021 but £5.9 billion more than pre #COVID19 in July 2019, which saw a surplus of £0.9 billion https://t.co/BIcEhMCCp1 pic.twitter.com/cTXo27u1kx— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) August 19, 2022
Nevertheless, borrowing was £0.8bn below levels from the same month last year, but represented a £5.9bn surge from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, when the government reported a surplus of £0.9bn.
It came as debt interest payments climbed to £5.8bn in July, lifting from £3.5bn in the same month last year due to increases in Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation.
Earlier this week, the ONS revealed that RPI leapt to 12.3 per cent, while the broader Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure hit a new 40-year-high of 10.1 per cent.
Public sector net debt excluding public sector banks was £2,388.1 billion at the end of July 2022, or around 95.5% of GDP.
This is an increase of £188.4 billion or 1.4 percentage points of GDP compared with July 2021 https://t.co/BIcEhMCCp1 pic.twitter.com/oiRvZ9UTdL— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) August 19, 2022
In response, the chancellor Nadhim Zahawi said: “I know that rising inflation is creating challenges for families and businesses, and it is also putting pressure on the public finances by pushing up the amount we spend on debt interest.
“To help people during this difficult time, government support is continuing to arrive in the weeks and months ahead, targeted to those who need it most, like pensioners, people on low incomes, and those with disabilities.
“We are taking a balanced approach: safeguarding the public finances while providing significant help for households.”
Government spending increased by £3.4bn to £76.5bn in July compared with the same month year, the ONS added.
The balance of risks to public finances has clearly shifted to the downside
Michal Stelmach, KPMG UK
Michal Stelmach, senior economist at KPMG UK, said the latest figures will mean “tough choices” for the next chancellor following the Conservative leadership election.
He added: “Public sector net borrowing continued to overshoot expectations in July, with year-to-date outturn now coming in £3bn higher than the [Office for Budget Responsibility] OBR’s forecast for the first four months.
“The balance of risks to public finances has clearly shifted to the downside.
“The cost of living crisis will likely require further support to households, while a slowing economy will put downward pressure on receipts, making the fiscal targets ever less achievable.”
