Finance Ministry says too early to begin predicting budget deficit for next year

The deficit figures for the year 2001 have not yet been predicted. However, deputy Finance Minister Krzysztof Neres said he hoped it would be 2.0% of GDP next year, down from an expected 2.15% to 2.2% this year. Last week, it was rumored the finance ministry would propose a deficit of 1.9% to 2.0%. Finance Ministry Jaroslaw Bauc says it is to early to discuss any indexes referring to the budget for next year, as the ministry's proposals have not yet been ironed out. This year's fiscal gap, predicted to be 2.7% of GDP, is expected to be actually lower at 2.2% to 2.5% due to faster economic growth and higher inflation. (Reuters) A.D.