Govt deficit smaller than forecast, even as quake costs rise
The government's net debt is $58.48 billion, or almost 28% of gross domestic product, 2.4% below forecast.
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The government kept a smaller operating deficit than forecast in the first nine months of the financial year, even as the cost of the Canterbury earthquakes grew an expected $192 million.
The operating balance before gains and losses (obegal) was a deficit of $4.95 billion in the nine months ended March 31, smaller than the $5.22 billion shortfall expected in the half-year economic and fiscal update, according to the Crown's latest accounts.
Core tax revenue continued to track ahead of expectations at $41.86 billion, with gains in the personal income tax base coming from the higher end of the pay scale.
Core crown expenses of $52.17 billion were broadly in line with expectations as delays to Treaty of Waitangi settlement costs and New Zealand's aid programme were offset by higher than expected costs from rebuilding Canterbury's infrastructure.
"Further asset investigation, scheduling and costing analysis by the SCIRT Alliance and the Christchurch City Council led to a $985m expense (and increase in the provision) being recorded," Treasury says in its commentary. "As $793m of this expense had been forecast at HYEFU, the unforecast portion was $192m."
Last month Prime Minister John Key said the cost of the Canterbury rebuild rose $10 billion to $40 billion, of which the government will cover an extra $2 billion, taking the net fiscal cost to some $15 billion.
Despite the increased cost, he says the government is still on track to reach its surplus target in 2014/15.
The government's insurance liability for the Earthquake Commission was $7.59 billion as at March 31, almost 11 percent bigger than forecast, while the liability from failed AMI Insurance, now known as Southern Response, was 45 percent ahead of expectations at $1.85 billion.
The Crown's provision for Canterbury red zone support was 16 percent below forecast at $477 million.
The government's net debt was $58.48 billion, or almost 28 percent of gross domestic product, 2.4 percent below forecast. The yield on New Zealand's 10-year government bond rose 5.5 basis points 3.235 percent this morning.
The operating balance was a surplus of $2.52 billion, ahead of a forecast deficit of $1.98 billion for the nine month period, after gains in the value of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and Accident Compensation Corp investment portfolios, and an actuarial gain on the future cost of ACC's liabilities.
(BusinessDesk)
Paul McBeth
Wed, 11 Jul 2018
Wed, 11 Jul 2018
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Govt deficit smaller than forecast, even as quake costs rise
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