Seasonally adjusted government deficit at 3.3% of GDP in the euro area and at 3.2% of GDP in the EU

In the second quarter of 2023, the seasonally adjusted general government deficit to GDP ratio stood at 3.3% in the euro area (EA20) and 3.2% in the EU. While the euro area deficit to GDP ratio remained stable compared to the first quarter of 2023, a slight increase was observed for the EU. In the second quarter of 2023, the EU deficit to GDP ratio stood at 3.2%, an increase compared to 3.1% in the first quarter of 2023. Measures to alleviate the impact of high energy prices continued to have a strong impact on the government balances in the second half of 2022 and first and second quarters of 2023 and the majority of Member States continued to record a government deficit.