UK September deficit hits £24.5bn, adding pressure before chancellor's budget

The short version

• The Treasury ran a higher than expected £24.5bn deficit in September, while annual inflation rose to 3.5%.[BBC News · The Guardian]
• Debt interest hit a record £10.9bn for September, and total government debt is estimated at £3tn.[The Guardian]
• WPI Strategy's Martin Beck calls the data an unwelcome reminder of pressure on the chancellor before next week's budget, while Andrew Griffith alleges Labour has lost control.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• The Treasury ran a higher than expected budget deficit of £24.5bn in September.[The Guardian]
• Government debt interest payments reached £10.9bn in September, the highest September figure since records began.[The Guardian]
• Total government debt is estimated to have reached £3tn for the first time.[The Guardian]
• UK inflation accelerated to 3.5% in the year to September.[BBC News]
• Capital Economics' Ruth Gregory said the September borrowing figure was higher than analyst and OBR expectations.[BBC News]
• Martin Beck of WPI Strategy said the data was an unwelcome reminder of pressures facing the chancellor before the budget.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• UK government borrowing rises to £24.5bn as John Healey prepares for budgetThe Guardian - World
• Inflation and government borrowing highest for a year ahead of next week's BudgetBBC News - Top Stories
• Faisal Islam: Inflation and borrowing figures illustrate chancellor's Budget challengeBBC News - Business
• Double blow to Healey as inflation rises to 3.5% and monthly deficit hits £24bnThe Guardian - World