Brasília – The consolidated public sector (federal government, states’ and municipalities’ governments, and state-owned companies) posted a primary surplus – that is, revenues minus expenses and debt interest – of 9.514 billion reals (US$ 5.199 billion) in February this year. It is the highest ever for the month of February since the Central Bank started keeping track of the results, in 2001.
In spite of the result, the governments’ fiscal efforts did not suffice to cover expenses pertaining to nominal interest on government debt. Interest payments stood at 18.269 billion reals (US$ 9.984 billion). The resulting nominal deficit was 8.755 billion reals (US$ 4.784 billion).
In February, the so-called Central Government (National Treasury and Social Security) posted a primary surplus of 5.317 billion reals (US$ 2.905). The governments of states and municipalities posted a combined primary surplus of 5.070 billion reals (US$ 2,770 billion). State-owned companies, Petrobras and Eletrobras not included, posted a deficit 872 million reals (US$ 476.5 million).
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
