The Bank of England has published its consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the most recent reporting period, providing a comprehensive picture of the central bank's assets and liabilities.
The balance sheet shows that the Bank's total assets were approximately £850 billion, down from a peak of approximately £1.1 trillion at the height of the quantitative easing programme. The reduction reflects the Bank's quantitative tightening programme, under which it has been reducing its holdings of government bonds by allowing them to mature and, in some cases, by selling them into the market.
The Bank's largest asset remains its holdings of UK government bonds, which stood at approximately £620 billion. Its largest liability is the reserves held by commercial banks at the Bank of England, which stood at approximately £700 billion. The Bank also holds approximately £80 billion of corporate bonds and £50 billion of other assets.
The publication of the balance sheet is part of the Bank's commitment to transparency and accountability. The Bank's finances are ultimately backed by the taxpayer, and the Bank has said it is important that the public can see how the institution's resources are being used.
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