According to the Ministry of Finance: "The deficit of Public Administrations until August reached €6.878 billion in public accounting, worsening by €550 million compared to the same period of the previous year as a result of the increase in expenditure (5.1 percent) having been higher than that observed in revenue (4.7 percent)".

"This aggravation is largely influenced by the extension of the deadline for delivery of the VAT in August", underlines the office led by João Leão, in the usual communiqué that precedes the disclosure of the budget by the Directorate-General for the Budget (DGO).

According to the document, primary expenditure grew 6.5 percent "reflecting the extraordinary measures to support the economy and the strong growth dynamics of the National Health Service".