P208 CEEFAX 2 208 Fri 21 Jan 22:04/11
    
    
  
 UK PLUNGES OVER £9.2bn INTO THE RED    
 The UK suffered a public sector net    
 cash requirement, or budget deficit, of
 a hefty £9.231bn in December — almost  
 three times the expected £3.3bn figure.
                                        
 The shortfall was the biggest monthly  
 deficit since March 1996 and was the   
 biggest December figure since records  
 began in the 1984/85 fiscal year.      
                                        
 The deficit compared with one of just  
 under £2bn in November.                
                                        
 It was distorted by a lack of windfall 
 tax receipts, government debt interest 
 payments and a drop in tobacco duties. 
                                        
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