LONDON, Jan 24 ― Britain's government borrowed £27.4 billion (RM145.6 billion) last month, official data showed today, the biggest December deficit on record.

A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to public sector net borrowing, excluding state-owned banks, of £17.75 billion for December.

The Office for National Statistics said the large figure for borrowing in December was "largely because of a sharp rise in spending on energy support schemes and an increase in debt interest.” ― Reuters