Finance Minister presents outline of 2006 budget projections

"This year for the first time, both revenues, expenditures and deficit was provided in brackets, rather than specified amounts" said Finance Minister Mirosław Gronicki. According to the projections, revenues should stand at zł.184-189 billion, while expenditures at zł.216-222 billion. At the same time, the government expects higher internal demand, especially consumption demand, and thus the current account deficit should stand at 2% of GDP. "Average wages will increase by 3.5%, while those in the public sector by 1.5%," said Gronicki. Unemployment is expected to fall to 17% from 18% in 2004. "Despite lower GDP growth and lower inflation, the budget is doing fine in 2005," said Gronicki. (Parkiet, p. 7) M.M.