UK government borrowing was higher than expected last month, according to the latest official figures.
Borrowing - the difference between public spending and tax income - was £17.4bn in October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, which was above analysts' forecasts of about £15bn.
The borrowing figures come less than a week before Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her Budget, and she has previously confirmed both tax rises and spending cuts are on the table.
Separate figures from the ONS showed retail sales fell in October, with some retailers saying that shoppers were waiting for this month's Black Friday deals.
Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said that together the latest government borrowing and retail sales figures painted a "pretty grim picture" of the economy.
