The UK saw an unprecedented budget surplus last January, driven by notable growth in tax revenues, reflecting a temporary improvement in its public finances.
This surplus reached £30.4 billion in January, which is double the amount recorded in the same month of the previous year, and also represents the highest monthly surplus since 1993.
Income and capital gains tax revenues reached £46.4 billion in January, the month when tax is usually paid, an increase of £10.5 billion compared to the same month in 2025.
In addition, retail sales rose by 1.8% on a monthly basis in January, recording the largest monthly increase since May 2024, and exceeding expectations set by economists, which indicated an increase of only about 0.2%.
