According to provisional data, the state budget deficit amounted to EUR 1,350 million in the first five months of 2021, and without the direct effect of COVID-related measures the budget would be roughly balanced. A deficit of EUR 2,747 million is envisaged in the state budget for the whole year.
Revenue in the first five months was 26.7% higher than in the same period last year, and, without taking into account the direct effect of COVID measures, it was 14.0% higher. The relatively high revenue growth is largely due to the base effect, when revenue fell sharply last year at the start of the epidemic, and the easing of restrictive measures this year.
Expenditure in the first five months was 21.3% higher than in the same period last year, and, without taking into account the direct effect of COVID measures totalling EUR 1.366 million, it was 0.5% higher. The latter is predominantly due to higher labour costs.
The cost of COVID measures with a direct effect on the state budget balance was EUR 334 million in May. In the first five months of 2021, the total direct scope of COVID measures was EUR 1,382 million, mostly on the expenditure side (EUR 1,366 million). The largest part of COVID expenditure in the first five months was accounted for by bonuses to employees (almost EUR 400 million), with the largest amount of bonuses since the beginning of the epidemic paid in May.
The total direct effect of COVID measures since March 2020 amounts to EUR 3,775 million, and the total cost of such measures, taking into account the potential effect of guarantees, liquidity loans and deferred credit payments on the state budget results, stands at EUR 4,477 million.
According to preliminary data, 53 thousand employees were involved in job retention measures in March 2021. In February, for which the data are already more definitive, the number was about 70 thousand, which is about a tenth of all employees. The basic income for March was received by 32 thousand or about 45% of all self-employed, while the total number of recipients of basic income was 37 thousand.