Headline comparisons

• Central government current receipts in August were 1.8% higher than in the same month last year. Receipts in the first five months of 2008-09 were 2.3% higher than in the same months of 2007. The 2008 Budget implied that central government current receipts for the whole of 2008-09 would be 5.0% above 2007-08 levels.

• Central government current spending in August was 7.8% higher than in the same month last year. Spending in the first five months of 2008-09 was 6.4% higher than in the same months of 2007. The 2008 Budget implied that central government current spending for the whole of 2008-09 would be 5.3% above 2007-08 levels.

• Public sector net investment in August was £2.6bn, compared to £1.7bn in the same month last year. Together, public sector net investment during the first five months of 2008-09 has been £8.8bn, which is 38% higher than in the same months of 2007. The Budget predicted that net investment in 2008-09 would be £33.8bn, which is 17.9% above last year's level.

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