The Lebanese budget registered a primary deficit of $165.33 million in January, as the deficit/spending ratio decreased to 12.62 percent from 79.98 percent in December 2000.
The lower ratio was due to a 94.78 percent drop in the deficit resulting from a 44.38 percent rise in revenues coupled with an decrease of 66.92 percent in expenditures.
For January 2001, government revenue and expenditure equaled $295.55 million and $338.22 million — of which $208 million was in debt servicing — respectively, resulting in a deficit of $42.67 million. — (Banque du Liban et d'Outre-Mer Sal)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)