Headline comparisons

• Central government current receipts are 5.6% up on

  the first 3 months of last year. The Budget 2003 forecast for 2003-04

  implies an increase of 7.0% for the year as a whole.

• Central government current spending is 8.2% up on

  the first 3 months of last year. The Budget 2003 forecast for 2003-04

  implies an increase of 6.5% for the year as a whole.

• Public sector next investment is 180.8% up on the

  first 3 months of last year. The Budget 2003 forecast for 2003-04 implies

  an increase of 67.2% for the year as a whole.

• Public sector net debt has risen from 31.1% of GDP

  in May 2003 to 31.9% of GDP in June 2003, the highest figure since

  December 2000.