BR - ePaper
Apr 26, 2017
Continuation Page 4
UK state borrowing nears 10-year low but misses target
Apr 26, 2017
LONDON: Britain’s deficit improved last year to its lowest annual level in almost a decade, as tax receipts swelled despite looming Brexit, official data showed Tuesday.
Net borrowing excluding bank bailouts stood at £52 billion ($66 billion, 61 billion euros) in the 2016/2017 year to the end of March, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.
That contrasted with £72 billion in the previous financial year and was the lowest level since 2007/2008. The news will be welcomed by British finance minister Philip Hammond, whose Conservative government faces a general election on June 8.—AFP