The central budget had a HUF 104.4 bln deficit in January. The social security funds and the separate state funds had surpluses of HUF 35.3 bln and HUF 15.3 bln, respectively. In the same month a year earlier, the deficit reached HUF 75.4 bln.

The ministry explained the lower deficit this year with higher tax revenue – from VAT, excise tax, the financial transaction duty, personal income tax, social contributions and duties – as well as a “favourable interest balance”. The ministry noted that the deficit is front-loaded, as usual, with expenditures exceeding revenue in the first half of the year.