Broken down, the numbers show that the public sector foreign debt went up from $8.8 billion to $9 billion.

At the same time, the private sector saw even faster debt growth, from $2 billion to $ 15.9 billion.

The trade deficit continues to plague the Serbian economy with 2007 figures reaching $9.5 billion, 41.2% up on 2006, IZIT said. (b92)