September 13 (SeeNews) - Croatia's consolidated general government budget was in 1.2 billion kuna ($180 million/162 million euro) surplus in the first half of 2019, equivalent to 0.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) planned for the year, the government said.
The general government budget includes the budgets of the central government, state agencies and funds.
The central government budget was in 1.9 billion kuna deficit in the six-month period, equivalent to 0.5% of GDP, the government said in a statement on Thursday.
Budget revenue rose 8.5% on the year to 65.1 billion kuna in in the first half of 2019, which is 47.8% of the full-year plan.
Expenditures increased by 8.3% on the year to 66.9 billion kuna, representing 47.7% of the annual plan.
The government plans a budget deficit of 1.7 billion kuna, equivalent to 0.4% of GDP, for 2019. The 2019 budget bill is built on projections of economic growth of 2.9%.
Last year, the general government budget was in surplus of more than 2.0 billion kuna, equivalent to 0.5% of GDP. Thus, 2018 was the second straight year in which the country had posted a consolidated general government surplus, after reporting deficits in the preceding 26 years.
(1 euro = 7.39665 kuna)