Net borrowing reaches £3.8bn level

The UK sank further into the red with net borrowing of 3.8 billion pounds, figures revealed
12 April 2012

A tentative improvement in the UK's dire public finances during July has fuelled hopes of a smaller rise in borrowing than first feared this year.

The UK sank further into the red in July with net borrowing of £3.8 billion over the month, although this is an improvement on 12 months earlier when borrowing hit £6.1 billion, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The lower-than-expected sum brings borrowing for the four months of the year so far to £44.9 billion, with forecasts of £149 billion for the full year from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

Capital Economics UK economist Vicky Redwood said: "Should borrowing continue along the same path, it would undershoot the OBR's full-year forecast by around £3 billion.This still leaves borrowing at extremely high levels and does not reduce the need for a massive fiscal tightening over the coming years."

The latest figures come as Chancellor George Osborne warned this week of the danger of not sorting out the deficit amid discontent over the savage cuts planned in June's emergency Budget - although Labour has accused the coalition of gambling with the recovery.

July's figures are usually boosted by corporation tax and VAT receipts, although the recession forced the UK to borrow during the month for the first time in 13 years in 2009.

The statistics did show some signs of recovery, however, with tax receipts of £49.7 billion - up £4.8 billion on a year earlier and the best July since 2008. The tax take was up 10.5% on a year earlier.

ONS figures exclude the impact of financial interventions by the Government, which reduce borrowing overall due to factors including profit contributions from the part-nationalised banks.

A Treasury spokesman said: "The figures show receipts strengthening in line with the OBR's forecast.

"However, tax receipts remain below their pre-recession peak and the UK is still forecast to have the highest deficit in the G20 this year, which is why the Budget announced measures to bring borrowing down."

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