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UK borrowing hits £24.5bn in September as debt interest reaches record for the month

· London, United Kingdom · single source so far

The Treasury ran a higher than expected deficit of £24.5bn last month as rising inflation pushed up debt interest to £10.9bn, the highest September figure on record. This increases pressure on John Healey ahead of his first budget next Wednesday.

Location
London, United Kingdom · United Kingdom live map
Coordinates
51.51°N 0.13°W
Reported
21 Oct 2026, 06:48 UTC
Category
Economy
Impact
2 of 5 · Notable
Situation
Global economy
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▲ Escalating

Global debt put at $365 trillion as France now pays more than Italy to borrow

On Thursday, reports put global debt at $365 trillion as interest costs climb, with France now paying more than Italy and Greece to borrow. Protests in Europe have highlighted the debt squeeze. On Wednesday, UK figures showed inflation rising to 3.5% in September and a higher than expected monthly deficit, ahead of the UK Budget next Wednesday.

  • France now pays more to borrow than Italy and Greece, and global debt is put at $365 trillion.
  • UK borrowing was £24.5bn in September, with debt interest of £10.9bn, the highest September figure on record.
  • UK inflation rose to 3.5% in the year to September from 3.1%, according to the Office for National Statistics, on surging fuel prices.
  • John Healey faces pressure ahead of his first budget next Wednesday.
Updated 24 Oct 2026, 01:19 UTC · Written by Claude from the reports on this page and on the map. Check the linked sources for full details.

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