P. M. BRIEFING : British Spending Deficit Eases

Britain said today its current account deficit narrowed to $2.28 billion in November, easing pressure on the government to raise already high interest rates to defend a weak pound.

The deficit was smaller than analysts had forecast and the news steadied sterling on exchange markets, where it sank to record lows against the West German mark Thursday.

Treasury officials were buoyed by the fourth successive monthly fall in the size of the deficit. And analysts said it eased pressure on the Thatcher government--which is lagging in opinion polls--to raise bank base interest rates from an already high 15% to stem a flight from sterling.