Debt costs push UK borrowing higher than expected
The government borrowed £25.6bn in April, with inflation pushing up interest payments on debt partly to blame.
The UK government borrowed more than expected last month, with inflation pushing up interest payments on debt partly to blame.
Borrowing, the difference between spending and tax income, reached £25.6bn in April, £11.9bn more than for the same month last year.
The costs of energy support schemes and increases in benefit payments were also behind the increase.
It was second-highest borrowing figure for April since records began in 1993.
It comes the day before the release of monthly inflation figures which the government hopes will fall below 10% for the first time since last July .