Public finance bulletin April 2005

<p><h3>Headline Comparisons</h3> </p><p><ul> </p><p><li><em class="bold">Public sector surplus</em> on the current budget in 2004-05 was minus £16.6bn (i.e. in deficit) compared to the March 2005 Budget projection of minus £16.1bn (and the March 2004 Budget projection of minus £10.5bn). </p><p><li><em class="bold">Public sector net borrowing</em> in 2004-05 was £34.5bn compared to the March 2005 Budget projection of £34.4bn (and the March 2004 Budget projection of minus £32.9bn). </p><p><li><em class="bold">Central government current receipts</em> in March were 4.6% higher than in the same month last year. Overall, current receipts in 2004-05 are thought to have been £419.2bn, compared to the March 2005 Budget projection of £419.5bn (and the March 2004 Budget projection of minus £422.4bn). </p><p><li><em class="bold">Central government current spending</em> in March was 1.6% lower than in the same month last year. Overall, current spending in 2004-05 is now thought to have been £434.2bn compared to the March 2005 Budget projection of £435.5bn (and the March 2004 Budget projection of minus £432.2bn). </p><p><li><em class="bold">Public sector net investment</em> in March was 23.0% higher than in the same month last year. Overall, net investment in 2004-05 is now thought to have been £17.8bn compared to the March 2005 Budget projection of £18.3bn (and the March 2004 Budget projection of £22.4bn). </p><p></ul></p>