The primary surplus in April 2023 was lower than in the same period last year, at BRL 29 billion.| Photo: Marcelo Andrade/Gazeta do Povo/archive

The central government registered a primary surplus of R$ 15.6 billion in April, lower than that obtained in the same month last year, of R$ 29 billion, according to data from the Ministry of Finance released this Tuesday (30). The drop in value was due to tax exemptions made by the public administration, according to Rogério Ceron, Secretary of the Treasury.

“Given the revenue waiver context, we consider it an important result that collaborates with the year’s performance”, he said. While the National Treasury and the Central Bank had a positive balance of R$36.4 billion, Social Security registered a deficit of R$20.8 billion in the month.

In the accumulated result for the year, the difference between total expenses and net revenues adds up to a surplus of R$ 47.1 billion. In the accumulated of 12 months, the result was a surplus of R$ 22.3 billion, equivalent to 0.22% of GDP.

According to the ministry, the value remains below the primary deficit target for this year, of up to R$ 231.5 billion according to the Annual Budget Law (LOA). The Ministries of Finance and Planning and Budget are currently projecting a negative result of BRL 136.2 billion, as stated in the Primary Revenue and Expenditure Assessment Report for the 2nd bimester of 2023.