Error found in UK public finances, official statistics body admits

Image source, Getty Images

  • Author, Katie Silver
  • Role, Business reporter

The UK budget deficit is 拢1-拢1.5bn less than what had been previously reported after a statistical error, the Office for National Statistics has said (ONS).

Britain's official statistics agency reported earlier this week a year-to-date budget deficit of 拢40.3bn, excluding public-sector banks.

The ONS now says there was "an error in the measurement of local government social benefits".

A corrected version will be published early next week.

The error meant the budget deficit for the month of September alone was about 拢250m too high. The ONS had said last month's shortfall was 拢9.4bn.

In a statement, the ONS said: "We have identified an error in the measurement of local government social benefits in the current financial year to date (April to September 2019) and will be correcting this at the earliest opportunity."