The Finance Ministry said Hungary’s cash-flow-based budget deficit was 2,709.7 billion forints (EUR 7.3bn) at the end of April, up from 2,089.7 billion at the end of March. The central budget posted a deficit of 2,671.6 billion forints at the end of April, while the social security funds were 77.4 billion in the red. Separate state funds showed a 39.3 billion forint surplus. The ministry noted that expenditures related to the regulated utility price scheme for households came to 848.5 billion forints by the end of April.
Meanwhile, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said in a first reading of data on Tuesday that Hungary’s trade balance posted a surplus of 899 million euros in March, up from 581 million in February. Exports grew by an annual 16.5% to 14.111 billion euros, while imports increased by 2.1% to 13.212 billion. Trade with other European Union member states accounted for 78% of Hungary’s exports and 69% of its imports during the month.
Photo credit: Shutterstock