The average government deficit rate declined by 0.5 and 0.4 percentage points between 2017 and 2018 in the euro area and the European Union, respectively, while the average government debt ratio declined by 2.0 and 1.7 percentage points over this period, according to figures published by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) on Tuesday 23 April.
The average government deficit stood at 0.5% of GDP last year in the euro area, compared with 1.0% of GDP a year earlier...