Brasília, February 27, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The non-financial public sector registered a primary surplus (revenues minus expenses, excluding interest payments) in January of R$ 6.9 billion, equivalent to 5.25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It made up for December's R$ 4.1 billion deficit with room to spare, although it was still 17.87% inferior to the R$ 8.463 billion surplus compiled in January, 2003.

The central government (including the Central Bank and the National Institute of Social Security) contributed R$ 7.2 billion (5.42% of the GDP), and regional governments (state and municipal), R$ 1.8 billion (1.33% of the GDP, while public enterprises showed a R$ 2 billion deficit (1.5% of the GDP), according to the monthly report on "Fiscal Policy."

Over the past 12 months, the public sector primary surplus amounted to R$ 64.7 billion (4.19% of the GDP), less than last year's R$ 66.2 billion, equivalent to 4.32% of last year's GDP, estimated at R$ 1.584 trillion.

Nominal interest payments totaled R$ 11 billion, significantly less than the R$ 17.6 billion paid in January, 2003. Of this total, the federal government was responsible for R$ 7.7 billion; regional governments, R$ 3.2 billion; and public enterprises, R$ 65 million. (DAS)