Forecasts against outturn

Every official forecast the Office for Budget Responsibility has published for the main economic and fiscal variables, set beside the outturn for the same year. A forecast miss is a measurement of uncertainty at the time, not of conduct.

How the comparison is made

The OBR’s historical official forecasts database lists each forecast by the month it was published and the outturn as the OBR knew it at its latest forecast. For every year with an outturn, this page takes the most recent forecast made at least twelve months before the year ended (“a year ahead”) and the most recent made at least twenty-four months before (“two years ahead”). The miss is the outturn minus the year-ahead forecast: a positive miss means the outturn came in higher than forecast. Nothing is modelled or adjusted.

FORECAST MISSED is applied when the year-ahead forecast for a rate was more than one percentage point out, or for a cash amount more than ten per cent of the outturn out. The band is fixed and stated here so the label cannot drift. Forecasts before June 2010 were made by HM Treasury, not the OBR.

The economy

GDP growth forecasts

per cent. Over the 41 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was 1.3 pts; the outturn came in above the forecast 20 times and below it 21.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
20241.3% November 20220.7% November 20231.1%+0.4 pts
20232.1% October 2021-1.4% November 20220.3%+1.7 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20226.6% November 20206% October 20215.1%−0.8 pts
20211.6% March 20195.5% November 20208.5%+3 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20201.4% October 20181.4% March 2019-10%−11.5 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20191.3% November 20171.6% October 20181.3%−0.4 pts
20181.7% November 20161.4% November 20171.6%+0.1 pts
20172.5% November 20151.4% November 20163%+1.6 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20162.2% December 20142.4% November 20152.2%−0.2 pts
20152.2% December 20132.4% December 20142.1%−0.3 pts

Latest forecast (March 2026): 2025 1.4%; 2026 1.1%; 2027 1.6%; 2028 1.6%; 2029 1.5%; 2030 1.5%. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Inflation forecasts

per cent. Over the 15 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was 0.9 pts; the outturn came in above the forecast 8 times and below it 7.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
20251.8% November 20232.6% October 20243.4%+0.8 pts
20240.6% November 20223.6% November 20232.5%−1.1 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20232.6% October 20217.4% November 20227.3%−0.1 pts
20221.6% November 20204% October 20219.1%+5.1 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20212% March 20191.2% November 20202.6%+1.4 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20202% October 20181.9% March 20190.9%−1 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20191.9% November 20172% October 20181.8%−0.3 pts
20182.5% November 20162.4% November 20172.5%+0.1 pts
20171.8% November 20152.3% November 20162.7%+0.3 pts
20161.7% December 20141% November 20150.7%−0.3 pts

Latest forecast (March 2026): 2026 2.3%; 2027 2%; 2028 2%; 2029 2%; 2030 2%. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Unemployment forecasts

per cent. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was 0.6 pts; the outturn came in above the forecast 3 times and below it 11.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
20244.9% November 20224.6% November 20234.3%−0.3 pts
20234.3% October 20214.1% November 20224%−0 pts
20226.5% November 20204.8% October 20213.8%−1 pts
20214.1% March 20196.8% November 20204.5%−2.3 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20203.8% October 20184.1% March 20194.6%+0.5 pts
20194.4% November 20173.7% October 20183.8%+0.1 pts
20185.5% November 20164.3% November 20174.1%−0.2 pts
20175.2% November 20155.2% November 20164.4%−0.8 pts
20165.2% December 20145.2% November 20154.9%−0.3 pts
20157% December 20135.4% December 20145.4%−0 pts

Latest forecast (March 2026): 2025 4.8%; 2026 5.3%; 2027 4.9%; 2028 4.4%; 2029 4.2%; 2030 4.1%. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Employment forecasts

people. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was 402,866; the outturn came in above the forecast 13 times and below it 1.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
202432,706,859 November 202232,915,487 November 202333,615,500+700,013
202333,002,477 October 202132,765,312 November 202233,351,000+585,688
202232,179,678 November 202032,587,143 October 202132,957,250+370,107
202132,905,617 March 201931,934,776 November 202032,555,000+620,224
202032,881,096 October 201832,737,971 March 201932,558,750−179,221
201932,429,562 November 201732,713,513 October 201832,923,000+209,487
201831,890,351 November 201632,295,883 November 201732,506,750+210,867
201731,700,000 November 201531,838,235 November 201632,127,750+289,515
201631,400,000 December 201431,500,000 November 201531,810,250+310,250
201530,400,000 December 201331,200,000 December 201431,345,750+145,750

Latest forecast (March 2026): 2025 34,160,402; 2026 34,224,822; 2027 34,457,556; 2028 34,766,580; 2029 35,023,485; 2030 35,246,197. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Earnings growth forecasts

per cent. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was 1.3 pts; the outturn came in above the forecast 8 times and below it 6.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
20241.7% November 20223.7% November 20235.1%+1.3 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20233% October 20214.2% November 20226.2%+2 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20222% November 20203.9% October 20216.1%+2.2 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20213.1% March 20192.1% November 20205%+2.9 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20202.8% October 20183% March 2019-0.3%−3.3 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20192.3% November 20172.5% October 20183%+0.4 pts
20182.8% November 20162.3% November 20172.6%+0.3 pts
20173.7% November 20152.4% November 20162.9%+0.4 pts
20163.1% December 20143.4% November 20152.5%−0.9 pts
20153.3% December 20132% December 20141.3%−0.7 pts

Latest forecast (March 2026): 2025 5.3%; 2026 3.4%; 2027 2.4%; 2028 2.1%; 2029 2.2%; 2030 2.4%. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Household income forecasts

per cent. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was 2.4 pts; the outturn came in above the forecast 10 times and below it 4.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
20241.2% November 2022-0.9% November 20234.1%+5 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20231.5% October 2021-3.4% November 20220.9%+4.3 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20221.7% November 20200.3% October 2021-2.1%−2.4 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20211.6% March 2019-0.7% November 20201.7%+2.4 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20200.9% October 20181.1% March 2019-0.5%−1.7 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20190.3% November 20170.6% October 20182.4%+1.8 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20181% November 20160.8% November 20172%+1.2 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20172.1% November 20150.1% November 20160.9%+0.8 pts
20161.7% December 20142.5% November 20150.7%−1.8 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20151.1% December 20131.9% December 20146%+4.1 ptsFORECAST MISSED

Latest forecast (March 2026): 2025 1.1%; 2026 0.6%; 2027 0.7%; 2028 0.8%; 2029 0.7%; 2030 0.9%. These are estimates and are stored as such.

House price forecasts

per cent. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was 2.8 pts; the outturn came in above the forecast 12 times and below it 2.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
2024-5.7% November 2022-4.7% November 20230.7%+5.4 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20230.9% October 2021-1.2% November 20220.4%+1.6 ptsFORECAST MISSED
2022-2.6% November 20203.2% October 20219.3%+6 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20213.7% March 2019-3.5% November 20208.2%+11.7 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20203.1% October 20181.3% March 20192.8%+1.5 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20192.9% November 20173.1% October 20181%−2.1 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20184.1% November 20162.9% November 20173.2%+0.3 pts
20174.7% November 20154% November 20164.5%+0.6 pts
20165.9% December 20144.8% November 20157%+2.2 ptsFORECAST MISSED
20157.2% December 20137.4% December 20146%−1.4 ptsFORECAST MISSED

Latest forecast (March 2026): 2025 2.8%; 2026 2.4%; 2027 2.9%; 2028 2.7%; 2029 2.6%; 2030 2.4%. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Borrowing and debt

Borrowing forecasts, per cent of GDP

per cent of GDP. Over the 46 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was 1.5 pts; the outturn came in above the forecast 27 times and below it 19.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 20253.2% March 20233.1% March 20245.2%+2.1 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 20241.9% March 20225.1% March 20234.8%−0.3 pts
Year ending March 20234.5% March 20213.9% March 20224.8%+0.9 pts
Year ending March 20222.8% March 202010.3% March 20215%−5.3 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 20210.9% March 20192.4% March 202014.7%+12.4 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 20201.6% March 20181.3% March 20192.6%+1.2 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 20191.9% March 20171.8% March 20182%+0.3 pts
Year ending March 20181.9% March 20162.9% March 20172.8%−0.1 pts
Year ending March 20172% March 20152.9% March 20162.8%−0 pts
Year ending March 20163.8% March 20144% March 20154.2%+0.2 pts

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 4.3%; Year ending March 2027 3.6%; Year ending March 2028 2.9%; Year ending March 2029 2.5%; Year ending March 2030 1.8%; Year ending March 2031 1.6%. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Borrowing forecasts, £ billion

£ billion. Over the 51 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was £18.7bn; the outturn came in above the forecast 37 times and below it 14.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 2025£85.4bn March 2023£87.2bn March 2024£152.7bn+£65.5bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2024£50.2bn March 2022£131.6bn March 2023£134.7bn+£3.2bn
Year ending March 2023£106.9bn March 2021£99.1bn March 2022£127.1bn+£28bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2022£66.7bn March 2020£233.9bn March 2021£120.3bn−£113.6bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2021£21.2bn March 2019£54.8bn March 2020£310.9bn+£256.1bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2020£33.9bn March 2018£29.3bn March 2019£58.4bn+£29bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2019£40.8bn March 2017£37.1bn March 2018£44.3bn+£7.3bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2018£38.8bn March 2016£58.3bn March 2017£59.3bn+£1bn
Year ending March 2017£39.4bn March 2015£55.5bn March 2016£57.2bn+£1.7bn
Year ending March 2016£68.3bn March 2014£75.3bn March 2015£80.7bn+£5.4bn

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 £132.7bn; Year ending March 2027 £115.5bn; Year ending March 2028 £96.5bn; Year ending March 2029 £86bn; Year ending March 2030 £63.4bn; Year ending March 2031 £59bn. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Debt forecasts, per cent of GDP

per cent of GDP. Over the 21 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was 5.9 pts; the outturn came in above the forecast 10 times and below it 11.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 2025102.4% March 202398.8% March 202493.2%−5.6 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 202494.1% March 2022103.1% March 202394.2%−8.9 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2023109% March 202195.5% March 202293.2%−2.3 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 202275% March 2020107.4% March 202194.3%−13 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 202179% March 201977.4% March 202095.4%+17.9 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 202085.1% March 201882.2% March 201984.5%+2.3 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 201988.5% March 201785.5% March 201879.6%−5.9 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 201881.3% March 201688.8% March 201781.6%−7.2 ptsFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 201779.8% March 201582.6% March 201682.7%+0.1 pts
Year ending March 201678.7% March 201480.2% March 201580.6%+0.3 pts

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 94.3%; Year ending March 2027 94.8%; Year ending March 2028 95.7%; Year ending March 2029 96.3%; Year ending March 2030 96.1%; Year ending March 2031 95.1%. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Receipts

Receipts forecasts, £ billion

£ billion. Over the 35 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was £30.5bn; the outturn came in above the forecast 32 times and below it 3.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 2025£1.1tn March 2023£1.14tn March 2024£1.14tn−£77.6m
Year ending March 2024£1.05tn March 2022£1.06tn March 2023£1.1tn+£38.4bn
Year ending March 2023£885.4bn March 2021£987.5bn March 2022£1.03tn+£46bn
Year ending March 2022£910.8bn March 2020£819.3bn March 2021£920.6bn+£101.3bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2021£844bn March 2019£872.9bn March 2020£791.9bn−£81bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2020£800.1bn March 2018£811.4bn March 2019£826.5bn+£15.1bn
Year ending March 2019£776.4bn March 2017£775.8bn March 2018£811.7bn+£35.9bn
Year ending March 2018£745.8bn March 2016£744.2bn March 2017£779.4bn+£35.3bn
Year ending March 2017£700.9bn March 2015£716.5bn March 2016£754.2bn+£37.8bn
Year ending March 2016£675.4bn March 2014£667.4bn March 2015£713bn+£45.6bn

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 £1.24tn; Year ending March 2027 £1.3tn; Year ending March 2028 £1.38tn; Year ending March 2029 £1.43tn; Year ending March 2030 £1.49tn; Year ending March 2031 £1.55tn. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Income tax forecasts

£ billion. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was £6.5bn; the outturn came in above the forecast 7 times and below it 7.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 2025£282.2bn March 2023£302.7bn March 2024£305.9bn+£3.2bn
Year ending March 2024£256.6bn March 2022£268bn March 2023£277bn+£9bn
Year ending March 2023£208.7bn March 2021£245.5bn March 2022£252bn+£6.5bn
Year ending March 2022£217.4bn March 2020£198.2bn March 2021£224.8bn+£26.6bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2021£208.1bn March 2019£207.5bn March 2020£195.3bn−£12.3bn
Year ending March 2020£195.2bn March 2018£195.7bn March 2019£192.5bn−£3.1bn
Year ending March 2019£183.1bn March 2017£188.5bn March 2018£192.5bn+£4bn
Year ending March 2018£186.6bn March 2016£174.1bn March 2017£180.6bn+£6.5bn
Year ending March 2017£182bn March 2015£182.1bn March 2016£177bn−£5.1bn
Year ending March 2016£176.8bn March 2014£170.5bn March 2015£168.9bn−£1.6bn

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 £331.4bn; Year ending March 2027 £359.6bn; Year ending March 2028 £384.6bn; Year ending March 2029 £395.6bn; Year ending March 2030 £413.8bn; Year ending March 2031 £430.8bn. These are estimates and are stored as such.

National Insurance forecasts

£ billion. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was £2.7bn; the outturn came in above the forecast 11 times and below it 3.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 2025£176.4bn March 2023£168.1bn March 2024£171.4bn+£3.3bn
Year ending March 2024£162bn March 2022£172.3bn March 2023£179.1bn+£6.7bn
Year ending March 2023£152.6bn March 2021£179bn March 2022£179.4bn+£404.8m
Year ending March 2022£157bn March 2020£146.8bn March 2021£160.8bn+£14.1bn
Year ending March 2021£149.7bn March 2019£150.2bn March 2020£144.2bn−£6bn
Year ending March 2020£140.6bn March 2018£143.4bn March 2019£143.7bn+£292.7m
Year ending March 2019£134.5bn March 2017£136.5bn March 2018£137.5bn+£941.6m
Year ending March 2018£133.4bn March 2016£130.3bn March 2017£131.5bn+£1.2bn
Year ending March 2017£123.9bn March 2015£126.5bn March 2016£125.8bn−£716m
Year ending March 2016£115bn March 2014£113.2bn March 2015£114.1bn+£861m

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 £204bn; Year ending March 2027 £211.6bn; Year ending March 2028 £218.9bn; Year ending March 2029 £226.5bn; Year ending March 2030 £237.6bn; Year ending March 2031 £245.8bn. These are estimates and are stored as such.

VAT forecasts

£ billion. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was £5bn; the outturn came in above the forecast 9 times and below it 5.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 2025£167.9bn March 2023£175.6bn March 2024£173.3bn−£2.3bn
Year ending March 2024£160bn March 2022£162.2bn March 2023£168.3bn+£6.1bn
Year ending March 2023£145.6bn March 2021£154.2bn March 2022£160.1bn+£5.9bn
Year ending March 2022£145.9bn March 2020£127.9bn March 2021£143.4bn+£15.5bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2021£141.5bn March 2019£140.6bn March 2020£117.4bn−£23.1bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2020£134.6bn March 2018£136.6bn March 2019£134.7bn−£1.8bn
Year ending March 2019£130.8bn March 2017£130.4bn March 2018£133.5bn+£3.1bn
Year ending March 2018£124.8bn March 2016£125.4bn March 2017£126.3bn+£845.2m
Year ending March 2017£117.7bn March 2015£120.1bn March 2016£122bn+£1.9bn
Year ending March 2016£115bn March 2014£114.3bn March 2015£116.2bn+£1.9bn

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 £180.9bn; Year ending March 2027 £188.7bn; Year ending March 2028 £197.8bn; Year ending March 2029 £205.8bn; Year ending March 2030 £214.7bn; Year ending March 2031 £223.8bn. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Spending

Spending forecasts, £ billion

£ billion. Over the 35 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was £41.7bn; the outturn came in above the forecast 34 times and below it 1.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 2025£1.19tn March 2023£1.23tn March 2024£1.29tn+£65.4bn
Year ending March 2024£1.1tn March 2022£1.19tn March 2023£1.23tn+£41.6bn
Year ending March 2023£992.3bn March 2021£1.09tn March 2022£1.16tn+£74bn
Year ending March 2022£977.4bn March 2020£1.05tn March 2021£1.04tn−£12.4bn
Year ending March 2021£865.2bn March 2019£927.7bn March 2020£1.1tn+£175.2bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2020£834bn March 2018£840.7bn March 2019£884.9bn+£44.1bn
Year ending March 2019£817.2bn March 2017£812.9bn March 2018£856bn+£43.2bn
Year ending March 2018£784.6bn March 2016£802.4bn March 2017£838.7bn+£36.3bn
Year ending March 2017£740.3bn March 2015£771.9bn March 2016£811.4bn+£39.5bn
Year ending March 2016£743.6bn March 2014£742.6bn March 2015£793.7bn+£51.1bn

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 £1.37tn; Year ending March 2027 £1.42tn; Year ending March 2028 £1.47tn; Year ending March 2029 £1.51tn; Year ending March 2030 £1.56tn; Year ending March 2031 £1.61tn. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Welfare spending forecasts

£ billion. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was £3.5bn; the outturn came in above the forecast 6 times and below it 8.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 2025£307bn March 2023£315.1bn March 2024£314.8bn−£381.6m
Year ending March 2024£270.8bn March 2022£294.5bn March 2023£296.4bn+£1.8bn
Year ending March 2023£254.9bn March 2021£250.3bn March 2022£261.5bn+£11.2bn
Year ending March 2022£237.8bn March 2020£249.1bn March 2021£244.3bn−£4.8bn
Year ending March 2021£232.2bn March 2019£231.2bn March 2020£245.4bn+£14.1bn
Year ending March 2020£228.4bn March 2018£227.3bn March 2019£227bn−£317.4m
Year ending March 2019£224.4bn March 2017£224.5bn March 2018£222.5bn−£2bn
Year ending March 2018£219.2bn March 2016£221.1bn March 2017£218.8bn−£2.3bn
Year ending March 2017£219.5bn March 2015£218.3bn March 2016£216.7bn−£1.6bn
Year ending March 2016£218.3bn March 2014£216.9bn March 2015£216.3bn−£546.6m

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 £332.9bn; Year ending March 2027 £352.8bn; Year ending March 2028 £363.1bn; Year ending March 2029 £373.8bn; Year ending March 2030 £389.9bn; Year ending March 2031 £406.9bn. These are estimates and are stored as such.

Debt interest forecasts

£ billion. Over the 14 years with a year-ahead forecast, the average miss was £6.7bn; the outturn came in above the forecast 10 times and below it 4.

YearTwo years aheadA year aheadOutturnMiss
Year ending March 2025£66.6bn March 2023£73.5bn March 2024£85.4bn+£11.9bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2024£51.5bn March 2022£76.9bn March 2023£83.2bn+£6.3bn
Year ending March 2023£41.1bn March 2021£87.2bn March 2022£108.1bn+£20.9bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2022£47.6bn March 2020£42.6bn March 2021£70.9bn+£28.3bnFORECAST MISSED
Year ending March 2021£48.7bn March 2019£44.7bn March 2020£41bn−£3.7bn
Year ending March 2020£52bn March 2018£51.1bn March 2019£50.3bn−£817.7m
Year ending March 2019£52.3bn March 2017£53.3bn March 2018£50.1bn−£3.1bn
Year ending March 2018£51bn March 2016£55.8bn March 2017£56.2bn+£382.5m
Year ending March 2017£50.7bn March 2015£47.8bn March 2016£49.9bn+£2.1bn
Year ending March 2016£59.1bn March 2014£46bn March 2015£46.4bn+£327.5m

Latest forecast (March 2026): Year ending March 2026 £98.5bn; Year ending March 2027 £103.4bn; Year ending March 2028 £111.4bn; Year ending March 2029 £120.9bn; Year ending March 2030 £129.9bn; Year ending March 2031 £133.4bn. These are estimates and are stored as such.

What this does not show

The outturn is the figure as the OBR recorded it at its latest forecast, on the definitions in force at the time, so it can differ from today’s ONS series after revisions and classification changes. Departmental forecasts other than the OBR’s are not yet loaded. Policy changes between a forecast and the outturn are part of the miss and are not separated out here; the OBR’s own forecast evaluation reports do that.