Government borrowing was higher than analysts’ expectations in April after forecasts for company tax payments fell short of hopes.
The Office for National Statistics said borrowing, excluding support for state-owned banks, was £7.2bn in April.
That was down from £7.5bn last year but higher than analysts’ forecasts of about £6,6bn.
The ONS also revised up its estimate of the amount borrowed in the financial year to March to £76bn.
That was £2bn more than its previous estimate, and £3.8bn above the prediction that had been made by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which produces forecasts for government.
The main reason for the lower figure was weaker-than-expected income from workers’ national insurance contributions.
The ONS says annual borrowing has been falling in general since the peak reached in the 2009-10 financial year.
Last year’s figure was £15.7bn lower than for the year before, and is half that borrowed in 2009-10.
