Revised figures
February 24, 2010![Man showing empty pants pockets](https://static.dw.com/image/706732_800.webp)
Newly released data from the Federal Statistics Office showed that state spending, boosted by efforts to fighting the economic and financial crisis, pushed the deficit to 79.3 billion euros ($107.2 billion). That's 3.3 percent of gross domestic product.
This means Germany has overstepping the budget-deficit limits set for EU countries by the Maastricht Treaty at 3 percent of GDP for the first time since 2005.
Hard hit by stimulus spending
The deficit-limit rule is aimed at securing the stability of the euro currency. Statistics for 2009 first published in January had shown a deficit of 77.2 billion euros, or 3.2 percent of GDP.
The poor result was expected, since the economic stimulus package, government subsidies for short-time employment, and falling tax revenues have all been a burden on public spending.
The German central bank is predicting even more red ink - a budget deficit of 5 percent - for 2010.
jen/dpaAFP (jen)
Editor: Andreas Illmer