What is the UK current account deficit?

The current account records the UK's trade plus its income flows and transfers with the rest of the world. Excluding precious metals, the deficit narrowed to £11.3 billion, or 1.4% of GDP, in April to June 2026, from £14.3 billion the quarter before, according to the ONS Balance of payments bulletin published on 30 September 2026. Including precious metals, it was £19.9 billion (2.5% of GDP).

The ONS publishes balance of payments figures quarterly; the next release was due on 22 December 2026. Its annual Pink Book gives the full detail.

Every quarter is open to revision, which ONS says ranged up to 1.7% of GDP in the latest release, so check the edition. A current account deficit is financed by net inflows of money from abroad and differs from the trade deficit and from government borrowing.

Official sources: ONS: Balance of payments (latest) · ONS: The Pink Book

The latest figure

The newest value is at Office for National Statistics (ONS). More on it: UK current account balance.

When is the next figure out?

Quarterly, with the quarterly national accounts about three months after the quarter ends, 7am; next release 22 December 2026

Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.

Terms used in this answer

• Current account (balance of payments)
  The UK's net position on trade in goods and services, plus income flows such as investment earnings and transfers with the rest of the world.
• Nominal GDP
  Gross domestic product measured at current prices, without adjusting for inflation. Used for debt-to-GDP and spending-to-GDP ratios.
• Revisions
  Changes to previously published figures, made when more complete data, improved methods or updated seasonal factors become available. A normal part of official statistics.
• Cash terms
  A money figure stated at the prices of the time it refers to, with no adjustment for inflation. Also called nominal terms.
• Seasonally adjusted
  Figures that have had regular calendar patterns removed, such as Christmas shopping or summer jobs, so that underlying movements between months or quarters can be seen.

Where the figures come from

• UK trade statistics (ONS, HMRC uktradeinfo and Department for Business and Trade)
  Where to find official UK trade figures: the ONS trade bulletin and balance of payments, HMRC uktradeinfo by product code, and DBT country factsheets.

Related questions

• What is the UK trade deficit?
• How big is the UK economy (GDP)?
• How much is the UK government borrowing?

This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about trade, exports and brexit: all Trade, exports and Brexit questions.