The UK’s current account deficit widened to £18.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from a revised £10.7 billion in the previous quarter, though it remained below market expectations of a £23.4 billion shortfall. The primary income deficit rose to £2.7 billion, or 0.3% of GDP, compared with £0.7 billion in the third quarter. This reflected a £2.6 billion increase in payments to foreign investors, which reached £111.1 billion, outpacing a £0.7 billion rise in receipts to £108.4 billion.
The goods trade deficit widened to a record £65.5 billion from £59.4 billion in the preceding quarter. The services surplus edged down 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 (also 0.5% of GDP).
