Mulyani noted that the primary balance was recorded negative at Rp84 trillion, or 0.61 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
A primary balance indicates the government`s ability to cover its expenditures apart from debt interest cost using the state revenue.
If the primary balance is positive, the government will be able to pay its debt using state revenue, and it will not, if the primary balance is negative.
The primary balance, which may change every month to positive or negative, is used by the government in considering the budget financing strategy.
The primary balance issued by the government every month, however, is not taken as the final position of the primary balance.
The target of primary balance in the 2018 budget is set at a deficit of Rp87.33 trillion, or negative 0.59 percent against the GDP, and it is only calculable after the fiscal year has ended.
Mulyani remarked that the deficit ratio of the national budget until August 2018 was recorded at 1.02 percent of the GDP, or Rp150.7 trillion.
In August 2017, the ratio of budget deficit was 1.65 percent of the GDP, or Rp224.9 trillion.
"It means improvement or decline of the deficit nominally almost reaches Rp74 trillion," Mulyani added.
Reporting by Calvin Basuki
Editing by Yoseph Hariyadi, Suharto
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
