April 15 (SeeNews) - Albania's budget was in surplus of 22.2 billion leks ($197.4 million/181.7 million euro) in the first quarter of the year, compared to an 8.8 billion leks deficit in the same period last year, official figures showed on Friday.
Consolidated budget revenue rose 27.4% to 139.3 billion leks, while expenditures fell by 0.9% to 117.1 billion leks in the January-March period, according to data published by the finance ministry.
Tax revenue increased by 27.4% to 132.5 billion leks, with value-added tax (VAT) proceeds up 43.8% to 45.6 billion leks.
The Albanian government has forecast economic growth of 4.1% and budget deficit equivalent to 100.9 billion leks, or 5.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the 2022 budget.
(1 euro= 119.884 leks)