Strong increase in general government surplus

---

General government had a surplus, or positive net financial investments, of NOK 28 billion in 1995. This represents a budget balance improvement of nearly NOK 40 billion compared to 1993. Measured as a percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), net financial investments were reduced from a deficit of 1.4 percent in 1993 to a surplus of three percent in 1995. Increased tax revenues and transfers from Norway's central bank, Norges Bank, were the main factors in the improvement, along with tighter financial policy to reduce growth in spending.

---

New Statistics

Public finances, 1988-1995.
Statistics are published annually in the Weekly Bulletin of Statistics and every third year in the Official Statistics of Norway (NOS) Public Sector Finances. More information: Bjørn Astad, tel. +47 21 09 45 14, Lars Sundel. tel. +47 21 09 45 21 and Hjørdis Eeg Henriksen, tel. +47 21 09 47 72.

Weekly Bulletin Is.18, 1996