The current account gap in the UK widened to GBP 15.7 billion in the third quarter of 2020 from an upwardly revised GBP 11.9 billion gap in the previous period and compared to market forecasts of a GBP 11.6 billion shortfall. It is equivalent to 2.9% of the GDP. The trade surplus fell sharply (GBP 1.3 billion vs GBP 16.6 billion) as imports of goods partially recovered following their sharp contraction in Quarter 2 when global trade stalled because of the coronavirus pandemic; trade in services continues to be impacted by the downturn, specifically in transport and travel services. Meanwhile, the primary income gap narrowed (GBP -11.9 billion vs GBP -19.5 billion) because of a larger recovery in UK earnings on foreign investments than the recovery in payments to foreign investors on their UK investments. Also, the secondary income gap declined (GBP -5.2 billion vs GBP -12 billion). source: Office for National Statistics

Current Account in the United Kingdom averaged -4840.36 GBP Million from 1946 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 2668 GBP Million in the first quarter of 1981 and a record low of -34541 GBP Million in the first quarter of 2019. 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 February of 2021.

Current Account in the United Kingdom is expected to be -12800.00 GBP Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Current Account in the United Kingdom to stand at -16200.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Current Account is projected to trend around -14400.00 GBP Million in 2021 and -17600.00 GBP Million in 2022, according to our econometric models.

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United Kingdom Current Account

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-15734.00 -11915.00 2668.00 -34541.00 1946 - 2020 GBP Million Quarterly
SA


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2020-03-31 06:00 AM Q4 £-5.6B £-19.9B £-7B £-10B
2020-06-30 06:00 AM Q1 £-21.1B £-9.2B £-15.4B £-14.2B
2020-09-30 06:00 AM Q2 £-2.8B £-20.8B £-0.4B £-0.6B
2020-12-22 07:00 AM Q3 £-15.7B £-11.9B £-11.6B £-10.7B
2021-03-31 06:00 AM Q4 £-15.7B £-12.8B
2021-06-30 06:00 AM Q1
2021-09-30 06:00 AM Q2
2021-12-22 07:00 AM Q3
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
UK Current Account Gap Wider than Expected
The current account gap in the UK widened to GBP 15.7 billion in the third quarter of 2020 from an upwardly revised GBP 11.9 billion gap in the previous period and compared to market forecasts of a GBP 11.6 billion shortfall. It is equivalent to 2.9% of the GDP. The trade surplus fell sharply (GBP 1.3 billion vs GBP 16.6 billion) as imports of goods partially recovered following their sharp contraction in Quarter 2 when global trade stalled because of the coronavirus pandemic; trade in services continues to be impacted by the downturn, specifically in transport and travel services. Meanwhile, the primary income gap narrowed (GBP -11.9 billion vs GBP -19.5 billion) because of a larger recovery in UK earnings on foreign investments than the recovery in payments to foreign investors on their UK investments. Also, the secondary income gap declined (GBP -5.2 billion vs GBP -12 billion).
2020-12-22
UK Current Account Gap Smallest Since 2011
The current account gap in the United Kingdom narrowed sharply to GBP 2.8 billion in the second quarter of 2020, or 0.6 percent of GDP, the smallest since the second quarter 2011 and compared to market forecasts of a GBP 0.4 billion gap, mostly because of erratic movements in the trading of precious metals, especially non-monetary gold. UK residents exported non-monetary gold to non-residents as the price rose to record levels, widening the total trade to a record GBP 16.9 billion surplus from GBP 0.5 billion in the previous period. In addition, there was a narrowing in the deficit on primary income to GBP 10.5 billion from GBP 14.9 billion, which was mostly because of payments to foreign investors on their investments in the UK fell more sharply than UK earnings on investment abroad. Partially offsetting these was a widening in the deficit on secondary income to GBP 9.1 billion from GBP 6.4 billion, mostly because of an increase in UK payments to the rest of the world.
2020-09-30
UK Current Account Gap Widens More than Expected
The current account deficit in the United Kingdom widened sharply to GBP 21.1 billion in the first quarter of 2020 from an upwardly revised GBP 9.2 billion in the previous period and worse than market forecasts of a GBP 14.5 billion gap. It is equivalent to 3.8 percent of the GDP. Exports fell to GBP 159.5 billion, the lowest levels since the first quarter of 2018 and imports to GBP 160.7 billion, the lowest since the fourth quarter of 2016 as the global coronavirus pandemic took hold and countries introduced lockdowns; this significantly impacted trade in finished manufactured goods and the provision of travel services. Also, the primary income deficit widened by GBP 2.4 billion to GBP 13.6 billion, because of a larger fall in UK earnings on foreign investments than the fall in payments to foreign investors on their UK investments as other countries entered lockdowns earlier and businesses aimed to maintain cash buffers by reducing or cancelling dividend payments.
2020-06-30
UK Current Account Deficit Lowest since 2011
The current account deficit in the UK narrowed to GBP 5.56 billion in the last three months of 2019 from an upwardly revised GBP 19.92 billion in the previous period and below market forecasts of a GBP 7 billion gap. It is the lowest current account shortfall since the second quarter of 2011, mostly because of exports of non-monetary gold and other precious metals and a decrease in the UK's payments to foreign investors. Considering full 209, the country’s current account deficit widened to GBP 83.76 billion (-3.8 percent of the GDP) from GBP 82.87 billion in 2018 (-3.9 percent of the GDP).
2020-03-31

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).