Inflation and borrowing data illustrate chancellor's Budget challenge

The Chancellor was on a early flight to North East Scotland on Wednesday to announce new North Sea energy approvals as the last set of major economic figures dropped.

From a mile high, as well as close up, the figures for inflation and for the public finances set out his Budget balancing act in clear terms.

The National Debt has topped £3 trillion for the first time in the official figures.

The headline rate of inflation has hit 3.5% and…