LONDON, June 21 Reuters Britain39;s public sector net debt surpassed 100 of gross domestic product in May as borrowing came in higher than expected, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday.

Public sector net debt, excluding that of statecontrolled banks, hit 2.567 trillion pounds 3.28 trillion, equivalent to 100.1 of gross domestic product.

That represented the first time that debt stood above 100 of GDP since 1961 although it was temporarily recorded as passing that threshold during the COVID19 pandemic before being revised lower.

The ONS said government borrowing in May stood at 20.045 billion pounds. A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to public sector net borrowing, excluding stateowned banks, of 19.5 billion pounds.

1 0.7819 pounds

Reporting by William Schomberg; editing by David Milliken

Source Reuters