Ukraine budget deficit reaches UAH 22.5 bln in 1H13
17 July 2013
Ukraine’s state budget deficit increased to UAH 22.5 bln in 1H13 vs. UAH 5.1 bln a year ago, according to a MinFin report released on July 17.
Alexander Paraschiy: We have yet another item of negative news from the fiscal sector. A budget deficit so high (UAH 22.5 bln) was observed only in 1H10, when it reached USD 27.4 bln and the year-end deficit hit a record of 5.9% of GDP. Remarkably in 2010, GDP grew 4.2% yoy and CPI increased 9.4% yoy, while in 2013 Ukraine is in a far worse position with the real sector being in the red and inflation near zero.
With devaluation pressure approaching in the fall, we still expect the central budget deficit will be financed this year by no more than 3.5% of GDP with the remaining fiscal gap (nearly 1.5% of GDP) to be covered with promissory notes or arrears.
