<p><h3>Headline comparisons</h3> </p><p><ul> </p><p><li><em class="bold">Central government current receipts</em> in August were 7.6% higher than in the same month last year. Receipts in the first five months 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 8.3% above 2004-05 levels. </p><p><li><em class="bold">Central government current spending</em> in August was 3.8% higher than in the same month last year. Spending in the first five months of 2005-06 was 5.9% 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 6.0% above 2004-05 levels. </p><p><li><em class="bold">Public sector net investment</em> in August was £0.3bn, or 18.4%, higher than in the same month last year. Together, public sector net investment during the first five months of 2005-06 has been £8.7bn, which is 75.3% higher than in the same months of 2004-05 The Budget predicted that net investment in 2005-06 would be £26.2bn, which is 38.0% above last year's level. </p><p></ul></p>