Moldovan public budget deficit narrows in first quarter of 2015

Chisinau, 30 May /MOLDPRES/ - The National Public Budget was executed in the first four months of 2015 with a deficit of about 188 million lei, representing 4.4 per cent of the figure planned for this period. The deficit was well below estimated levels while the budget revenues rose by 3.6 per cent against the tasks set, while the expenditure side was executed at 79.1 per cent, according to a report by the Finance Ministry.

During four months, the state budget deficit amounted to 530.4 million lei or 16.1 per cent of the estimated figure for this period. The gap between revenues and expenditures was covered mostly from foreign sources amounting to 486.8 million lei. To ensure financing of priority payments related to personnel expenses, payment of scholarships, pensions, allowances, transfers of money for salaries to territorial-administrative units in April, the Finance Ministry reserved funds, which amounted to over one billion lei in 1 April 2015.

The Finance Ministry states that in the first four months of the year, revenues of 13.5 billion lei were accumulated in the national public budget, by 466 million more against the same period in 2014. Official data show a sharp increase in tax revenues, with nearly 1.3 billion compared to January-April 2014, due to higher revenues from income and property taxes.

National public budget expenditures amounted to over 13.7 billion lei, having an upward trend against the corresponding period of 2014, but with 3.6 billion below the level foreseen for the first four months of the year.

Most of the spending, approximately 74.3 per cent, were used to carry out social and cultural programmes. The field of national economy received 8.8 per cent of the total expenditures, and 6.1 per cent of the public money spent in January-April were used for national defence, public order and national security.

(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor L. Alcaza)