The Czech budget surplus increased to CZK 42.4bn in January, the highest January posting in 13 years, according to the Finance Ministry. The 2013 budget was approved with a CZK 100bn deficit, while last year it was CZK101bn. Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek warned, however, that “conclusions for the entire year cannot be drawn on the basis of the January data.” The VAT increases, for instance, were not factored into the January figures, he added. Budget revenues reached CZK 125bn, and budget expenditures grew by CZK 3.4bn y-o-y to CZK 82.6bn.
