Decrease borrowing invoice provides Jeremy Hunt a lift earlier than autumn assertion

The chancellor has been handed an extra pre-autumn assertion enhance as official figures this morning confirmed that the federal government borrowed £16.9 billion lower than anticipated up to now this yr.

The federal government borrowed £14.9 billion in October, the second-highest determine for that month since information started in 1993 and above analysts’ expectations, in keeping with the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS).

It implies that the UK’s debt pile has elevated by £98.3 billion within the current fiscal yr, a lot decrease the £115.2 billion that the Workplace for Funds Duty (OBR) projected by this time of the yr on the March 2023 price range, strengthening the possibilities of Hunt launching tax cuts at tomorrow’s autumn assertion.

Jeremy Hunt is contemplating utilizing a fraction of a income windfall to decrease revenue tax, nationwide insurance coverage or inheritance tax tomorrow.

Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, yesterday despatched a robust sign that Hunt will scale back taxes. Sunak mentioned that the federal government was now able “to show our consideration to reducing tax” after inflation fell quicker than anticipated to 4.6 per cent final month, which means the prime minister met his pledge of halving it this yr two months early.

The chancellor mentioned at present: “We met our pledge to halve inflation, however we should carry on supporting the Financial institution of England to drive inflation right down to 2 per cent. Which means being accountable with the nation’s funds.

“At my autumn assertion tomorrow, I’ll concentrate on how we enhance enterprise funding and get individuals again into work to ship the expansion our nation wants.”

Hunt mentioned yesterday that it was now time to concentrate on the “long-term progress of the UK economic system” within the autumn assertion after taking a extra cautious method to fiscal coverage for the previous yr.

Stronger than anticipated tax revenues engineered by wage progress rising at a report tempo this yr amid rising costs has offered Hunt with wherever between £15 billion to £25 billion to deploy at tomorrow’s fiscal occasion, which might be his third since changing into chancellor a yr in the past.

Earnings tax receipts have soared over the previous yr resulting from staff being pushed into increased tax brackets after receiving pay will increase to compensate for rising costs, a course of generally known as “fiscal drag”. The federal government has frozen revenue tax, and numerous different taxes, thresholds for a number of years, which can pull in an estimated £52 billion, in keeping with the Institute for Fiscal Research.

Nonetheless, there are clear long-term challenges to the well being of the general public funds introduced by increased rates of interest elevating the debt curiosity invoice. The ONS mentioned that the UK spent £7.5 billion on debt servicing prices in October, the biggest for that month since information started in 1997. Analysts at Deutsche Financial institution mentioned in a notice to shoppers that the OBR will forecast within the autumn assertion that annual debt curiosity spending will prime £100 billion in every of the following 5 years.