The government reveals a budget surplus of 259 million euros until October – Jornal Econômico

The government reveals that the execution of the budget recorded until October an overall surplus of 259 million euros, an improvement of 2,072 million euros compared to the same period, this is explained by a revenue growth (5.4%) higher than the increase in expenditure (2.1%).

The Executive said in a statement that the evolution of the balance of the public accounting does not include the charge with the injection of 792 million euros in the capital of the New Bank and the loan of 121 million euros in BES Injured Recovery Fund. The evolution of expenditure benefits from the end of the payment of twelfths of the Christmas grant on wages and pensions, paid in November and December for 2,980 million euros.

Thus, until October of this year, the tax revenue of the State sub-sector increased by 5%, which contributed to the increase in net revenues from VAT (4.8%), IRC (11.1%) and IRS (4.4%). ). Tax refunds increased by 2.1%. "Tax revenues reflect the good dynamism of economic activity and tax revenues have benefited from the behavior of the labor market, as evidenced by the growth of 7% of social security contributions," concludes the Ministry of Finance in a communicated.

"Strong increase in spending" in the NHS

The Ministry headed by Mário Centeno justifies the growth of spending by the "strong increase in expenditure of 4.6% of the National Health Service (NHS), which reached peaks before the period of the adjustment program, as well as that social benefits, especially with the social provision for inclusion ". Public transport companies such as Comboios de Portugal (+ 15.3%) and Infraestruturas de Portugal (+ 6.8%), Culture (8.4%) and security forces, including the judicial police (40.9%). %) and GNR (30.3%) complete the list of the highest growth in spending.

SNS and investment in the railways

According to the Ministry of Finance, the national health service and the railway sector largely explain the growth of public investment: "This growth has made a very significant contribution to the rail sector, with a rise of 153.6% per year. compared to 2017 and Health Sector, with 49% growth ".