Greek 11-Month Budget Deficit Widens to 20.5 Billion Euros

Greece’s state budget deficit widened 5 percent in the first 11 months of the year, better than a revised target for the period.

The gap, which excludes outlays by state-owned institutions and companies, rose to 20.5 billion euros ($26.5 billion) from 19.5 billion euros a year earlier, according to preliminary figures received by e-mail from the Finance Ministry. The figure came in below a target of 21 billion euros set in the 2012 budget, it said. Final figures are due later this month.