According to the report from the Office for National Statistics, public sector net borrowing (excluding public sector banks, PSNB ex) was estimated to have been £20.5 billion in August 2021; this was the second-highest August borrowing since monthly records began in 1993, but £5.5 billion less than in August 2020. Economists had forecast borrowing of 15.6 billion pounds for August.

Central government receipts in August 2021 were estimated to have been £61.2 billion, £5.3 billion more than in August 2020, while central government bodies spent £79.6 billion in August 2021, £1.0 billion less than in August 2020.

Public sector net borrowing (PSNB ex) was estimated to have been £93.8 billion in the financial year-to-August 2021; this was the second highest financial year-to-August borrowing since monthly records began in 1993, £88.9 billion less than in the same period last year.

Public sector net borrowing (PSNB ex) was estimated to have been £325.1 billion in the financial year ending March 2021, an increase of £27.1 billion compared with our previous estimate; largely as a result of recording, for the first time, expected expenditure of £20.9 billion on calls under the government loan guarantee schemes.

Public sector net debt (excluding public sector banks, PSND ex) was £2,202.9 billion at the end of August 2021 or around 97.6% of GDP, the highest ratio since the 98.3% recorded in March 1963.