Data on consolidated budget surplus released

In the first half of 2002, the surplus of the consolidated budget amountedto RUR184.6bn (about $5.85bn), while in the corresponding period of 2001,it was RUR179bn (about $5.67bn). Budget profits reached RUR1.577 trillion(about $49.98bn) as compared to RUR1.206 trillion (about $38.22bn) in 2001,including RUR1.252 trillion (about $39.68bn) in tax revenues. Budgetexpenditures were RUR1.393 trillion (about $44.15bn) against RUR1.027trillion (about $32.55bn) in the first half of 2001. This data was releasedby the State Statistics Committee of Russia.In the first six months of 2002, the budget allotted RUR1.119 trillion(about $35.46bn) for supporting specific industries, social and culturalevents, national defense, state administration and law-enforcementactivities. This sum amounted to 80.4 percent of total budget expendituresas compared to 74.8 percent in the first half of 2001..