Public sector borrowing falls
Public sector net borrowing fell by £700 million to £12.8 billion in September, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Borrowing 'better than expected'
Britain's public finances deteriorated less than feared during the first six months of 2012, but it looks like Chancellor George Osborne will still be forced to announce in his Autumn Statement that the Government will miss its target to bring down debt as a percentage of GDP by 2015 / 2016.
- Public sector debt was at £1.1 trillion at the end of September 2012, or 67.9% of GDP
- Public sector debt was at £972.5 billion at the end of September 2011, or 63.6% of GDP
Brian Hilliard, economist at Societe Generale, said the figures for September "will make life a bit easier" for the Government:
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