The UK government's borrowing in September 2024 reached £16.6 billion, marking the third highest September borrowing since records began in 1993. This figure was £2.1 billion more than the previous year and exceeded the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) forecast of £15.1 billion, although it was slightly below City economists' forecast of £17.5 billion. Borrowing for the first half of the fiscal year totaled £79.6 billion, overshooting the OBR's predictions by £6.7 billion. The increased borrowing has intensified the pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of her first budget, where she faces the challenge of funding public services while adhering to pledges not to raise certain taxes. The public sector net debt now stands at 98.5% of GDP, a level last seen in the early 1960s. Reeves is currently attending international economic meetings in Washington, D.C., adding further context to the fiscal challenges she faces.