- ATHENS, Greece: The Greek Finance Ministry says the central government deficit has widened to just over 15 percent in the first nine months of the year compared with last year.
It said Wednesday that lower-than-expected revenues were due to a deeper recession than originally forecast.
The ministry said the budget deficit amounted to €19.16 billion for January to September, compared with €16.65 billion during the same period last year. But the figure was slightly narrower than a revised target of €19.24 billion.
Revenue shortfalls are expected to be made up over the next three months, the ministry said. The figures it issued relate to the state budget deficit, which excludes spending in some areas, and is not the criteria used for the EU’s assessment of Greece’s financial reforms.