German Economy: Germany posts record-breaking budget surplus

Germany had a record budget surplus of € 13.5 billion ($15 billion) at the end of 2019, the Finance Ministry announced on Monday.

"We've had a bit of luck, and of course we've economized well," German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said in Berlin on Monday, just a year after he claimed the "fat" years were over for Germany.

It is the third time in the last five years that Europe's largest economy closed the year with a budget surplus. The 2019 surplus overtook a 2015 budget surplus of €12.1 billion.

Added to that figure is an additional €5.5 billion from a fund earmarked for refugees that went unspent, making a total surplus of €19 billion.

In contrast the US budget deficit topped $1 trillion in 2019.

Read more at: Germany posts record-breaking budget surplus | News | DW | 13.01.2020

British Economy: UK records biggest July budget surplus since 2000 - as it happened

t’s been a good day for UK chancellor Philip Hammond as far as the country’s public finances go, with the best July budget surplus for 18 years.

But factory growth was less impressive in August, according to the CBI.

Meanwhile the dollar has weakened after President Trump took the Federal Reserve to task for continuing to raise interest rates.

And in Greece, prime minister Alexis Tsipras has said Greece is at the beginning of a new era following its exit from its longstanding bailout programme.

Read more: UK records biggest July budget surplus since 2000 - as it happened | Business | The Guardian