Brasília, January 28, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - In 2003 the government registered a primary surplus of R$ 39.6 billion, which corresponds to 2.59% of the estimated GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for last year. The surplus in the Federal Treasury amounted to R$ 66.2 billion. Social Security and the Central Bank showed deficits of R$ 26.4 billion and R$ 194.7 million, respectively.

The Federal Treasury's 2003 results, which were R$ 16.8 billion (33.9%) better than the previous year's, more than made up for the R$ 9.4 billion (55.3%) increase in the Social Security deficit. For its part, the Central Bank reduced the deficit in its primary operations by R$ 582.8 million. Federal revenues rose R$ 36 billion to reach a total of R$ 357.9 billion. This growth was less than the average increase in price indexes in 2003, compared with 2002. (DAS).