TIRANA (Albania), December 3 (SeeNews) – Albania recorded a budget surplus of 1.54 billion leks ($14 million/12.4 million euro) in the first 10 months of 2018, compared to a deficit of 3.5 billion leks in the year-ago period, the finance ministry said.

Consolidated budget revenue rose 3.8% year-on-year to 370 billion leks in January-October, while spending increased 2.4% to 368.5 billion leks, the ministry said in a press release last week.

Tax revenue grew 4.4% to 325.7 billion leks, while VAT proceeds increased 3.5% to 118.5 billion leks.

Economic growth of 4% and budget deficit equivalent to 2% of GDP are envisaged in Albania's 2018 budget bill.

(1 euro = 123.723 leks)