英国政府12月借款降至2003年以来最低，赤字明显改善，支撑里夫斯控财政

Group 1 - The UK government's borrowing in December decreased more than market expectations, supported by strong tax revenue performance, with a deficit of £11.6 billion (approximately $15.6 billion) [1] - The deficit reduction of £7.1 billion compared to the previous year was lower than the median forecast of £13 billion from economists [1] - This marks the lowest borrowing level for the UK government in December since 2003 [1] Group 2 - Strong tax revenue growth is attributed to the implementation of a payroll tax increase in April and robust wage growth, which alleviated spending pressures [3] - The tax revenue increased by £7.7 billion compared to the previous year, driven by a £3 billion rise in National Insurance contributions and a £2.5 billion increase in income tax [4] - The Office for Budget Responsibility predicts that the overall borrowing for the current fiscal year will reach £138.8 billion, reducing the deficit-to-GDP ratio from 5.2% in 2024-2025 to 4.5% [4] Group 3 - The UK Treasury's Chief Secretary emphasized efforts to stabilize the economy, reduce borrowing, and eliminate waste in the public sector [5] - However, concerns were raised about the slow pace of deficit reduction and the political vulnerability of the current administration, which may affect the implementation of future fiscal tightening measures [5]