THE UK's public finances unexpectedly worsened last month, piling further pressure on Chancellor Philip Hammond ahead of the Autumn Budget.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing, stripping out state-owned banks, jumped by £500 million to £8 billion in October.
The move was above economists' predictions of £7.5 billion, as debt interest payments hit a record high for the month at £6 billion.
Despite last month's rise, the deficit excluding state-backed banks for the current financial year - April to October - hit its lowest level for a decade, dropping £4.1 billion to £38.5 billion.
The update comes as Mr Hammond braces for the prospect of a gloomy fiscal outlook in today's Budget, with forecasts expected to show lower economic growth and higher borrowing.
