Surplus for Swedish central government in September 2021

Press release 7 October 2021

Swedish central government payments resulted in a surplus of SEK 11.5 billion in September. The Debt Office's forecast was a surplus of SEK 14.2 billion. The difference is explained by lower than anticipated tax income and higher payments from government agencies. This was partially countered by the Debt Office’s net lending being lower than expected.

The primary balance was SEK 8.9 billion lower than the forecast. Tax income was SEK 4 billion lower than estimated, which is mainly due to lower supplementary tax. At the same time, payments from several government agencies, the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Pensions Agency in particular, were higher than estimated. The EU fee was also higher than expected.

The Debt Office’s net lending to government agencies etc. was SEK 5.6 billion lower than the forecast. This is mainly due to higher deposits from Svenska kraftnät, the Swedish Pensions Agency and the Nuclear Waste Fund.

Interest payments on central government debt were SEK 0.5 billion lower than the forecast.

For the twelve-month period up to the end of September 2021, central government payments resulted in a deficit of SEK 8.1 billion.

Central government debt amounted to SEK 1 139 billion at the end of August.

The outcome for October 2021 will be published on November 5 at 9.30 a.m.

New forecasts for 2021–2023 are published on October 27.

Budget balance and central government net   borrowing requirement (SEK million)
[1] The net borrowing requirement corresponds to the budget balance with opposite sign.
[2] Sum of monthly forecast deviations since last forecast.
[3] Net of the state's primary expenditure and income.
[4] The net of government agencies etc. deposits and loans in the state’s internal bank. The net   lending includes both current government operations and temporary occurrences   which can be decided on short notice. The net lending affects the net borrowing requirement and central government debt, but is not covered by the Central government expenditure ceiling.
 OutcomeForecastDeviationAcc. Dev. [2]Outcome 12-month
Budget balance 11 458 14 195 -2 737 35 106 -8 142
Net borrowing requirement [1] -11 458 -14 195 2 737 -35 106 8 142
Primary balance [3] 13 904 5 044 8 860 -22 846 38 545
Net lending to agencies etc. [4] -23 946 -18 352 -5 594 -11 237 -44 656
Interest payments on central government debt -1 417 -888 -529 -1 023 14 252
  - Interest on loans in SEK -1 149 -1 004 -145 -1 154 14 629
  - Interest on loans in foreign currency -230 157 -388 -400 -893
  - Realised currency gains and losses -37 -40 3 532 517

Report: Central Government Debt September 2021

More data on the borrowing requirement and government debt

The monthly outcome of the central government net borrowing requirement is included in the official statistics of Sweden.

The Debt Office published their latest forecast on the Swedish economy and central government borrowing on May 27: Forecast and analysis 2021:2

Press inquiries

Mats Lilja, press officer

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Mats Lilja, press officer
Press phone (office hours): +46(0)8-613 47 01, mobile +46(0)721-561 527
E-mail: Mats Lilja