The latest finance ministry data indicate revenue to the general consolidated budget totaled 76.1 billion lei ($31.8 billion) in the first eight months of this year, up from RON63.55 billion in the corresponding period last year. The ministry didn't provide expenditure data.

Romania's general budget posted a surplus last month on the back of local and social security budgets. In the first eight months of this year, local budgets posted a surplus of 0.9% of GDP, sustaining again the growth in the general consolidated budget.

In the first half of 2007, the general consolidated budget posted a deficit of 0.19% of GDP, compared with a surplus of 1.12% of GDP in the corresponding period a year earlier.

The Romanian government has set a budget deficit ceiling of 2.8% of GDP for this year, but Vosganian said last week he expects a year-end budget deficit of about 2% of GDP.

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