LJUBLJANA, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Slovenia recorded a central government budget surplus of 7.6 million euros ($9.28 million) in January versus a deficit of 21 million euros in the same month last year, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday.

It added January tax inflows increased by 1.8 percent year-on-year. The government plans to end 2018 with a budget surplus of 0.4 percent of GDP versus a deficit of 0.8 percent last year.

The Fiscal Council, a body that advises the government on public finances, on Friday urged the government to pursue further fiscal consolidation.

"Further consolidation would enable continuation of favourable economic movements and ... strengthen public finance position in order to be able to face worse times," the council said.

Four months ahead of a general election, the government is under strong pressure from public sector trade unions to increase wages. As yet, the government has rejected most demands for higher wages, but it continues talks with the unions.

Earlier on Wednesday the statistics office reported that Slovenia, which narrowly avoided an international bailout for its banks in 2013, reached the highest economic growth in the past decade in 2017 when its economy expanded by five percent, boosted by exports and investments. The finance ministry said that high economic growth obliges the government to reduce the deficit at a faster rate than planned, ensuring macroeconomic stability and further economic growth. ($1 = 0.8185 euros)

(Reporting By Marja Novak, Editing by William Maclean)