UK government borrowing eases as recovery helps tax take

Reopening of economy in May causes rush to shops and increases VAT and fuel duty receipts

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The government borrowed less than expected in May when the reopening of the economy prompted a rush to the shops and pushed VAT and fuel duty receipts higher.

Official figures showed borrowing in May was 24.3bn, undershooting the 28.5bn estimate by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) by 4.2bn.