Lower deficit in Croatia's balance of payments

ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - Croatia's balance of current payments deficit in the second quarter of this year amounted to 210 mln euros which is 156.2 mln euros or 42.6 percent less than for the same period last year, the Croatian National Bank's preliminary data reports.

The greatest effects to deficits are the result of a growth in the services account and a fall in deficit in the incomes account while the goods account recorded a further increased deficit.

Statistics released by the central bank indicate that the deficit in the payment balance in the first quarter this year amounted to 1.6 billion euros. The deficit in the first half of this year amounted to 1.8 billion euros and so the the deficit is 9.7 per cent less than that recorded for the first term last year.

The central bank's data on capital and financial transactions indicate a continuing fall in direct investments in Croatia in the first six months of this year and amounted to 154.3 mln euros which is 74.2 percent or 444.3 mln euros less than for the first six months last year.