Revised figures
February 24, 2010
Newly released data from the Federal Statistics Office showed that state spending, boosted by efforts to fighting the economic and financial crisis, pushed the deficit to 79.3 billion euros ($107.2 billion). That's 3.3 percent of gross domestic product.
This means Germany has overstepping the budget-deficit limits set for EU countries by the Maastricht Treaty at 3 percent of GDP for the first time since 2005.
Hard hit by stimulus spending
The deficit-limit rule is aimed at securing the stability of the euro currency. Statistics for 2009 first published in January had shown a deficit of 77.2 billion euros, or 3.2 percent of GDP.
The poor result was expected, since the economic stimulus package, government subsidies for short-time employment, and falling tax revenues have all been a burden on public spending.
The German central bank is predicting even more red ink - a budget deficit of 5 percent - for 2010.
jen/dpaAFP (jen)
Editor: Andreas Illmer