UK central government debt interest payable
UK central government debt interest payable stood at £6,659m in Aug 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Public sector finances table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Apr 1997 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Public sector finances table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt interest payable, excluding index-linked capital uplift | |||||||||||
| Central government | 6,659 | 6,768 | 6,966 | 6,755 | 6,749 | 6,463 | 8,151 | 4,350 | 6,408 | 5,583 |
Understanding UK central government debt interest payable
The servicing costs associated with borrowing liabilities issued by authorities across the United Kingdom are tallied in this debt expense series, specifically excluding any uplift tied to retail price index-linked gilts. It measures coupon payments and market interest obligations on conventional government securities, distinguishing itself from principal repayments and non-interest operational outlays.
Reading this financial charge requires careful separation of coupon payment dates from underlying debt accumulation trends, as interest settlements often cluster in specific months. Market interest rate movements and inflation adjustments exert a powerful influence over time, though index-linked capital uplifts are isolated elsewhere. Revisions are infrequent once coupon transactions clear, but historical reclassifications of debt instruments can alter the baseline.
Frequently asked questions
- What does UK central government debt interest payable exclude?
- This series excludes the capital uplift component on index-linked gilts, focusing strictly on regular coupon and market interest liabilities.
- Why does debt interest payable spike in certain months?
- Government bonds feature scheduled semi-annual coupon payment dates, causing interest outlays to concentrate heavily in those specific months.
- Does this series cover local government borrowing costs?
- No, this metric is restricted to central government debt liabilities across the United Kingdom.