JAKARTA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia posted state budget deficit of 150 trillion rupiah (about 10 billion U.S. dollars) in August this year, lower than 220 trillion rupiah (about 14.8 billion U.S. dollars) in the corresponding period last year, Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said here on Monday.
The lowering state budget deficit throughout the month was contributed by increasings state revenues and government spending accordingly that led to surplus in government's primary balance, the minister said.
She said the state revenues has grown 18.4 percent to 1,152.7 trillion rupiah (about 77.5 billion U.S. dollars) in August, while government expenditure also grew 8.8 percent or higher than 5.6 percent recorded in the same period last year.
"The spending has accelerated higher, but our revenues have also accelerated far higher as well. It led to lower primary balance in the balance," the minister said in a hearing with legislators in the parliament here, referring to the spread between state revenue and spending.
She added that the primary balance in August recorded a surplus of 11.5 trillion rupiah (about 774.2 million U.S. dollars) while in the same period last year it recorded a deficit of 84 trillion rupiah (about 5.6 billion U.S. dollars)
"So, it reflects a real improvement," she pointed out.
The minister said government would continue improving state budget soundness until the end of the year even it has to deal with uncertainty in global economy amid the ensuing downturns at present.
"We need to make state budget as the nation's instrument to stabilize the economy, by making effective allocation and distribution so as to make it more dynamic," she said.
