



The Greek budget showed a primary surplus of 1.506 billion euros in the January-May period this year, from a surplus of 707 million euros in the corresponding period in 2014 and a budget target for a primary surplus of 556 million euros.

State budget figures, on an amended cash basis, showed a deficit of 1.399 billion euros in the five-month period, from a deficit of 1.990 billion last year and a budget target for a shortfall of 3.481 billion euros. Net budget revenue totaled 18.626 billion euros in the first five months of 2015, down 2.8 pct from targets, while regular budget net revenue totaled 17.048 billion euros, down 5.4 pct from targets. This development was attributed to a 94.5 pct fall in corporate income tax revenue and a 6.4 pct decline in VAT revenue.

On the other hand, property taxes surpassed targets by 18.4 pct and other non-tax revenue were up 22.3 pct in the January-May period. Public Investment Program revenue reached 1.577 billion euros, up 417 million from targets. In May, state budget net revenue fell short of targets by 24.6 pct, while regular budget net revenue were down 24 pct from monthly targets. This development was attributed partly to the non collection of the first installment of corporate taxes (555 million euros) and the non collection of ANFAs (132 million euros).

State budget spending totaled 20.025 billion euros in the five-month period, down 2.628 billion euros from targets, while regular budget spending totaled 19.053 billion euros, down 1.939 billion from targets. Regular budget spending was down 3.8 pct from the same period last year.

Public Investment Program spending reached 971 million euros, down 689 million from targets and down 809 million euros from the same period last year. In May, state budget spending reached 3.7 billion euros, down 591 million from targets, while regular budget spending totaled 3.55 billion euros, down 311 million from targets.

(Source: ANA-MPA)



