Robertson says books in good shape to weather coronavirus

Tue, 11 Feb 2020

Finance Minister Grant Robertson says the latest government accounts are in good shape, however the outbreak of coronavirus is expected to knock the economy in coming months.The government's operating balance before gains and losses was a surplus of $400 million in the six months ended Dec. 31, down from a $1.1 billion surplus in the same period a year earlier. Still, that was an improvement on the $100 million deficit forecast in the December half-year economic and fiscal update.“At the halfway point of the year, the books are in good shape. T...

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