<p><p><p><p><p><h4>Headline Comparisons</h4><ul><li><b>Central government current receipts</b> in September were 6.3% lower than in the same month last year. Receipts in the first half of this financial year have been 10.3% lower than in the same months of 2008-09. The 2009 Budget implied that central government current receipts for the whole of 2009-10 would be 7.8% below 2008-09 levels.<p></li><li><b>Central government current spending</b> in September was 4.9% higher than in the same month last year. Spending in the first half of this financial year has been 4.7% higher than in the same months of 2008-09. The 2009 Budget implied that central government current spending for the whole of 2009-10 would be 7.5% above 2008-09 levels. <p></li><li><b>Public sector net investment</b> in September was £3.5bn compared to £1.2bn in the same month last year. Together, public sector net investment over the first half of this financial year has been £15.8bn, which is 67% higher than in the same months of 2008-09. The Budget predicted that net investment in 2009-10 would be £43.8bn, which is 23% above last year's level.<p></li></ul></p></p>