The Greek state budget showed a primary surplus of 617 million euros in the January-June period, up from a budget target for a surplus of 465 million euros, but down from a surplus of 1.936 billion euros in the corresponding period last year.
The Finance Ministry, in a report on provisional budget execution data, said the general government balance showed a deficit of 2.318 billion euros in the first six months of the year, from a budget target for a deficit of 3.249 billion and a shortfall of 1.596 billion euros in the same period in 2017.
State budget net revenue amounted to 21.960 billion euros in the first half, up 131 million or 0.6 pct from budget targets, while regular budget net revenue was 20.712 billion euros, up 87 million or 0.4 pct from targets. Tax returns was 2.229 billion euros, up 76 million from targets, while Public Investment Programme revenue totaled 1.248 billion euros, up 44 million from targets.
State budget spending was 24.278 billion euros in the January-June period, down 800 million from targets, while regular budget spending totaled 23,321 billion euros, down 122 million from targets. Budget spending was up 507 million euros compared with the same period last year, while Public Investment Programme spending was 956 million euros, down 679 million from targets.
In June, state budget net revenue was 3,538 billion euros, up 302 million from monthly targets, while regular budget revenue was 3,413 billion euros, up 260 million from targets. Public Investment Programme revenue amounted to 126 million euros, up 42 million from targets and tax returns fell by 161 million euros to 320 million.
Budget spending was 5.042 billion euros in June, down 139 million from monthly targets, while regular budget spending was 4,880 billion euros, up 24 million from targets. Public Investment Programme spending was 163 million euros, down 162 million from monthly targets. [amna]
PS of course, the primary surplus is down when compared to same time in previous year. Greeks are drained and exhausted from pay 8/10 of what they have to the state.
