In the January-March 2010 period the Central Government cash deficit (net borrowing requirement) decreased to 5,678 million euros from 6,354 million euros in the corresponding period of 2009. During this period, the ordinary budget revenue decreased to 11,766 million euros from 11,796 million euros last year. It is worth-noting that ordinary budget revenues in March 2010 were negatively affected by the delayed collection of March VAT receipts, amounting to 513.68 million euros which was collected on April 6, 2010 due to Easter holidays. As far as the expenditure is concerned, during the first quarter of the year it decreased to 15,046 million euros compared with 15,396 million euros in 2009. Ordinary budget expenditures in March 2010 include the payment of the Easter allowance (amounting to about 500 million euros) which was paid in April last year.
In addition, the primary deficit of the state budget showed a decline and reached 2,916 million euros compared with 3,732 million euros recorded in the January-March period of 2009.