Instead of the expected zł.36.2 billion, Poland's budget deficit came in at zł.20.7 billion at the end of August, Parkiet reported. It had been zł.21.1 billion at the end of July.

The deficit came in lower than the government had forecast largely because of higher-than-planned dividends from state companies, while lower-than-expected expenditures also helped.

Final expenditures of zł.201.9 billion were far below the zł.208.6 billion expected, while the total income of zł.181.2 billion was well above the predicted zł.172.5 billion.

The government expects that the deficit may amount to zł.30 billion by the end of the year, rather than the previously predicted zł.40.2 billion.

Poland A.M.