VOL. XLII

No. 31

2-August-1999

IRAN

Iran痴 1998-99 Budget Deficit Soars

Iran痴 actual budget deficit in 1377 (year to 20 March 1999)soared to IR17,712bn ($10.1bn) from IR2,869bn ($1.6bn) in 1376 (year to 20March 1998), according to preliminary statistics published by the Central Bankof Iran in its latest quarterly bulletin, Economic Trends. The largedeficit was occasioned by the decline in oil prices which started at the end of1997 and accelerated in 1998-99. Usually Iranian state budgets are...