Hungary posts 1.5 pc-of-GDP budget surplus in H1 - KSH

Hungary posted a budget surplus of 270.5 billion forints (EUR 868.7m) in the first half of 2017, equivalent to 1.5 percent of GDP, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Friday. The H1 surplus was up 183.9 billion forints or 1.0 percentage point of GDP compared to the same period in 2016. Commenting on the data, economy ministry state secretary Peter Beno Banai said the government would continue to pursue a stable budget, keeping the deficit low. This can be achieved by further reducing the public debt, he said.