The Government stated this Tuesday, 23rd, that it is confident that the country will achieve a surplus of “at least” 0.3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year, after INE revealed a positive balance of 3.8% in the third quarter.
“The data released today by the National Statistics Institute (INE), for the third quarter of 2025, demonstrate the solidity of national accounts and reinforce the Government’s confidence that it will be possible to achieve a budget surplus at the end of this year, of at least 0.3% of GDP”, said the Ministry of Finance, in a statement.
According to the national statistics office, from July to September, the surplus was “2,952 million euros, corresponding to 3.8% of GDP, which compares with 4.9% in the same period last year”.
In the quarter, compared to the same period of the previous year, there was an increase of 7.7% in total revenue and 10.8% in total expenditure.
In reaction to this data, the Government highlighted that, “despite the fiscal relief measures and reinforcement of pensioners’ income that took place this quarter, the country maintains a positive balance in public accounts, which is the result of a prudent and solid budgetary policy”.
“This policy has also been reflected in the consistent and significant reduction of public debt, with a positive impact on the State’s financial management”, added the ministry led by Joaquim Miranda Sarmento.
Finance also highlighted the fact that the State had brought forward, this Monday, the payment of the ‘troika’ loans that were scheduled for 2028 and 2031. This anticipation allows for “savings on interest on public debt and contributes to smoothing the repayment profile of public debt in the coming years”.