The UK’s current account deficit widened to £18.4 billion (2.4% of GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2025 from a revised £10.7 billion in the previous quarter but was below market expectations of a £23.4 billion shortfall. The primary income deficit increased to £2.7 billion, or 0.3% of GDP, from £0.7 billion in the third quarter, as payments to foreign investors rose by £2.6 billion to £111.1 billion, outpacing the £0.7 billion increase in receipts to £108.4 billion. In addition, the goods trade deficit expanded to a record £65.5 billion from £59.4 billion in the prior quarter, whereas the services surplus decreased slightly to £53.3 billion from £53.5 billion. Meanwhile, the secondary income deficit narrowed to £3.6 billion (0.5% of GDP) from £4.1 billion (0.5% of GDP) in the previous period. source: Office for National Statistics

The United Kingdom recorded a Current Account deficit of 18392 GBP Million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Current Account in the United Kingdom averaged -5352.20 GBP Million from 1946 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 5258.00 GBP Million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and a record low of -36480.00 GBP Million in the first quarter of 2022. This page provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Current Account - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United Kingdom Current Account - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

The United Kingdom recorded a Current Account deficit of 18392 GBP Million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Current Account in the United Kingdom is expected to be -24000.00 GBP Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Current Account is projected to trend around -16300.00 GBP Million in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-12-22 07:00 AM
Current Account
Q3 £-12.1B £-21.2B £-21.3B £ -18.8B
2026-03-31 06:00 AM
Current Account
Q4 £-18.4B £-10.7B £-23.4B £-22.0B
2026-06-30 06:00 AM
Current Account
Q1 £-18.4B £ -24B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 3922.00 -4340.00 GBP Million Jan 2026
Capital Flows 8556.00 23510.00 GBP Million Dec 2025
Current Account -18392.00 -10689.00 GBP Million Dec 2025
Current Account to GDP -2.40 -3.00 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 82508.00 76962.00 GBP Million Jan 2026
External Debt 8221019.00 8234887.00 GBP Million Dec 2025
Net Foreign Direct Investment 25417.00 23315.00 GBP Million Dec 2025
Goods Trade Balance -14449.00 -22724.00 GBP Million Jan 2026
Imports 78586.00 81302.00 GBP Million Jan 2026


United Kingdom Current Account
Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-18392.00 -10689.00 5258.00 -36480.00 1946 - 2025 GBP Million Quarterly
SA

News Stream
UK Current Account Deficit Widens in Q4
The UK’s current account deficit widened to £18.4 billion (2.4% of GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2025 from a revised £10.7 billion in the previous quarter but was below market expectations of a £23.4 billion shortfall. The primary income deficit increased to £2.7 billion, or 0.3% of GDP, from £0.7 billion in the third quarter, as payments to foreign investors rose by £2.6 billion to £111.1 billion, outpacing the £0.7 billion increase in receipts to £108.4 billion. In addition, the goods trade deficit expanded to a record £65.5 billion from £59.4 billion in the prior quarter, whereas the services surplus decreased slightly to £53.3 billion from £53.5 billion. Meanwhile, the secondary income deficit narrowed to £3.6 billion (0.5% of GDP) from £4.1 billion (0.5% of GDP) in the previous period.
2026-03-31
UK Q3 Current Account Gap Smallest in Nearly 3 Years
The UK’s current account deficit narrowed to £12.1 billion (1.6% of GDP) in Q3 2025, down from a downwardly revised £21.2 billion in Q2 and well below expectations of a £21.3 billion shortfall. This marked the smallest deficit since Q4 2022, driven primarily by a sharp improvement in the primary income balance. The primary income deficit narrowed significantly to £1.9 billion from £8.4 billion, as credits rose by £5.5 billion while payments to foreign investors declined by £1.1 billion. Additionally, the goods trade deficit narrowed to £58.9 billion from £60.0 billion. Meanwhile, the services surplus increased to £52.8 billion from £51.3 billion, as exports grew by a larger amount than imports. Exports of services rose by £2.2 billion to £137.9 billion, driven primarily by transport and intellectual property services. On the other hand, the secondary income deficit widened slightly, rising by £0.1 billion to £4.1 billion (0.5% of GDP), up from £4.0 billion (0.5% of GDP) in Q2.
2025-12-22
UK Q2 Current Account Gap Largest in 2 Years
The UK’s current account deficit widened to £28.9 billion (3.8% of GDP) in Q2 2025, up from a downwardly revised £21.2 billion in Q1 and well above expectations of a £24.9 billion shortfall. This was the largest deficit since Q2 2023, driven primarily by a sharp deterioration in the primary income balance. The primary income deficit widened to £16.8 billion from £9.1 billion, as credits decreased while debits increased—receipts declined by £2.1 billion, while payments to foreign investors rose by £5.6 billion. Additionally, the goods trade deficit widened to £61.7 billion from £55.5 billion, as imports fell by £0.7 billion while exports declined by £6.5 billion, mainly due to lower shipments of semi-manufactured goods, finished goods, and oil. Meanwhile, the services surplus increased to £53.8 billion from £48.3 billion. On the other hand, the secondary income deficit fell slightly, decreasing by £0.7 billion to £4.2 billion (0.6% of GDP), down from £4.9 billion (0.7% of GDP) in Q1.
2025-09-30