Public sector net borrowing (excluding public sector banks) decreased by £2.3 billion to £45.5 billion in the current financial year-to-date (April to September 2016), compared with the same period in 2015.

Public sector net borrowing (excluding public sector banks) increased by £1.3 billion to £10.6 billion in September 2016, compared with September 2015.

Public sector net debt (excluding public sector banks) at the end of September 2016 was £1,627.2 billion, equivalent to 83.3% of gross domestic product (GDP); an increase of £39.5 billion compared with September 2015.

This month debt as a percentage of GDP fell by 1.0 percentage point compared with September 2015. This is the fourth successive month of debt falling on the year as a percentage of GDP and indicates that GDP is currently increasing (year-on-year) faster than net debt excluding public sector banks.

Central government net cash requirement decreased by £9.5 billion to £36.6 billion in the current financial year-to-date (April to September 2016), compared with the same period in 2015.