The Greek state budget recorded a primary surplus of 498 million euros in January 2020, reflecting a better-than-expected performance of tax revenue. 
"January was a calm month on budget execution," Finance Deputy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis said, presenting the figures, adding that tax revenue was positive in the first month of 2020 while Public Investment Programme revenue fell slightly below targets due to bureaucratic reasons (350-400 million euros were collected at the end of the month and are recorded in February's figures).
 More specifically, the primary surplus was 498 million euros in January from a budget target for a primary surplus of 1.269 billion. Net revenue was 3.915 billion euros, down 743 million euros or 16 pct from budget targets, while regular budget revenue was 4.263 billion euros, down 645 million or 13.2 pct compared with monthly targets. Tax revenue was 4.055 billion euros, up 7.0 million from targets, tax returns exceeded targets by 98 million euros to 348 million and Public Investment Programme revenue was 43 million euros in January, down 644 million from monthly targets.
 State budget spending was 4.681 billion euros in January, up 232 million from targets, reflecting higher capital spending and increased payments to the European Union.