JAKARTA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia recorded a budget and state spending deficit of 153.7 trillion rupiah (around 10.1 billion U.S. dollars) from January to August this year, or 0.68 percent of its gross domestic product, still within the target of 522.8 trillion rupiah (around 34.06 billion dollars) or 2.29 percent for the year, said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Monday.
"So in this case, a 0.68 percent deficit means we are still on track," Indrawati stated.
State revenue as of August decreased by 2.5 percent year-on-year to 1,777 trillion rupiah (around 115.77 billion dollars), while government spending realization reached 58.1 percent or 1,930.7 trillion rupiah (around 125.78 billion dollars) of the quota.
Likewise, tax revenue fell by 4 percent to 1,196.5 trillion rupiah (around 77.95 billion dollars), although customs and excise revenue increased by 6.8 percent to 183.2 trillion rupiah (around 11.93 billion dollars).
Despite the decline in revenue, the primary balance remains in surplus at 161.8 trillion rupiah (around 10.54 billion dollars), though it has decreased by 61.7 percent compared to last year. ■