<p><h4>Headline Comparisons</h4> </p><p><ul> </p><p><li><em class="bold">Central government current receipts</em> in September were 7.0% higher than in the same month last year. Receipts in the first half of 2005-06 were 7.2% higher than in the same months of 2004-05. The 2005 Budget implied that central government current receipts for the whole of 2005-06 would be 8.5% above 2004-05 levels. </p><p><li><em class="bold">Central government current spending</em> in September was 4.3% higher than in the same month last year. Spending in the first half of 2005-06 was 5.4% higher than in the same months of 2004-05. The 2005 Budget implied that central government current spending for the whole of 2005-06 would be 5.9% above 2004-05 levels. </p><p><li><em class="bold">Public sector net investment</em> in September was £0.9bn higher (102.6%) than in the same month last year. Together, public sector net investment during the first half of 2005-06 has been £2.4bn higher (40.2%) than in the same months of 2004-05. The Budget predicted that net investment in 2005-06 would be 38.3% above last year's level. </p><p></ul></p>