Budget deficit in January not helped by lack of privatization deals

According to Janusz Jankowiak, an analyst with BRE Bank, the government might have problems with financing the budget deficit over the year. The Treasury Ministry did not conclude any privatization projects in January, which resulted in the need for an issue of securities worth zł.565.2, directed at pension funds. In related news, inflation for the month remained at the December level of 1.7%. Janusz Jankowiak believes that the CPI index over the coming months will accelerate more than during 2003, but it should be slower than had been earlier predicted. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2)M.M