Lower deficit than expected in December

Press release 9 January 2013

Swedish central government payments resulted in a deficit of SEK 79.3 billion in December. This is SEK 8.1 billion lower than the Debt Office´s forecast of SEK 87.5 billion. For the full year 2012 the deficit was SEK 24.9 billion[1], which can be compared with the Debt Office´s forecast of SEK 27.6 billion.

The lower deficit in December is explained by higher tax income of approximately SEK 4 billion and lower disbursements from a number of state agencies. The difference in taxes is primarily due to lower refunds of excess tax.

Interest payments on central government debt were SEK 7.3 billion, which was SEK 0.3 billion lower than calculated.

Central government debt was SEK 1,153 billion at the end of 2012. That corresponds to 32 per cent of GDP.[2]

The outcome for January will be published at 9:30 am on 7 February 2012.

Further information can be obtained from:
Tord Arvidsson, +46 8 613 47 53

[1] The outcome is preliminary and may be revised in connection with the Debt Office's annual accounts. Please refer to the Debt Office's annual report 2012 for the final annual outcome.

[2] Central government debt as a percentage of GDP is a forecast that will be revised once the GDP outcome is published by Statistics Sweden.

Table of the net borrowing requirement (pdf)

Central Government Debt December 2012 (pdf)