UK public borrowing falls despite fuel crisis and supply chain issues

Stronger tax receipts and end to furlough scheme credited with faster than expected fall

Government borrowing fell at a faster than expected rate in September as the furlough scheme came to an end and tax receipts recovered strongly.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show borrowing fell to 21.8bn last month, from 28.8bn in the same month a year earlier, as Covid support measures were unwound. It was still the second highest September borrowing since comparable records began in 1993.