São Paulo – In the first four months this year the Brazilian Central Government posted a primary surplus, i.e. savings to pay interests on public debt, of US$ 13.23 billion (or R$ 29.66 billion). These figures surpass the US$ 12.49 billion (R$ 28 billion) target for the period. According to information released this Thursday (29th) by the National Treasury, the dividends of the Central Government, comprised by the National Treasury, Social Security and Central Bank, between January and April were 8,7% higher than in the same period in 2013.
According to information from news agency Agência Brasil, reaching the surplus target for the first four months was only possible because the dividends sent by state-owned companies to the Treasury amounted to US$ 3.67 billion (or R$ 8.231 billion). In April alone, a total of US$ 1.04 billion (or R$ 2,341 billion) was obtained, especially due to dividends from Petrobras. Last month, Central Government’s surplus stood at US$ 7.4 billion (or R$ 16,597 billion).
The government’s target for 2014 is to obtain a fiscal surplus of US$ 36.05 billion (R$ 80.8 billion), equivalent to 1.55% of Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). States and municipalities should save US$ 8.12 billion (R$ 18.2 billion). Primary surplus of all the public sector should close the year at US$ 40.74 billion (R$ 91.306 billion), the equivalent to 1.9% of the GDP.
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
