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The accounting industry has reportedly fallen by 9% in December 2025 to £3.57bn, according to Office for National Statistics data, representing the third lowest monthly billing of the year and a 6% decline against the 2025 average.
The sector recorded a 2% decrease compared to December 2024, while annual performance sat 0.1% below the previous year. Growth was limited to a quarter-on-quarter comparison, with revenues rising 3.4% between the third and fourth quarters.
In the wider services sector, monthly revenues rose 0.5% in December. The broader service industry grew 1.67% year-on-year, while the UK economy expanded 1.3% across 2025, up from 1.1% in 2024.
Gross domestic product grew 0.1% in the final quarter of the year. This matched the 0.1% growth recorded in December. The services sector, which includes accounting, showed no growth overall during the three months to December.
Julie Matheson, accounting industry regulatory partner at Kingsley Napley, said: “Today’s figures are somewhat disappointing but it should be borne in mind that December is usually quieter than October and November and revenues normally pick-up in January owing to tax reporting activity.
“Considering 2025 as a whole, the industry hasn’t grown, recording very similar revenues to 2024. It has also fallen short of the modest growth in the wider services sector and indeed the wider economy, although we are talking 1 – 1.5% percentage differences which are marginal and we all know the economy remains sluggish at best.”
She added: “The overall message for accounting firm leaders therefore is to consider carefully how they can regain their mojo in 2026 – what they can do to improve revenue performance but also support the UK’s growth agenda.”
