TIRANA (Albania), February 21 (SeeNews) – Albania's budget was in deficit of 31.5 billion leks ($276.1 million/255.7 million euro) at the end of 2019, compared to a gap of 26.2 billion leks a year earlier, official figures show.
Consolidated budget revenue rose 2.3% year-on-year to 460.3 billion leks in 2019, while expenditures increased 3.3% to 491.9 billion leks, according to data published by the finance ministry.
Tax revenues increased by 1.65% to 426.3 billion leks, whereas value-added tax (VAT) revenue decreased 7.7% to 132.4 billion leks.
The finance ministry did not provide information on the budget deficit calculated as percentage of 2019 gross domestic product (GDP).
The Albanian government has forecast economic growth of 3.4% and budget deficit equivalent to 1.9% of GDP in the 2019 state budget.
(1 euro = 121.521 leks)