Adds dropped word 'deficit' to headline
PARIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - France's 2024 public sector budget deficit is coming in close to 6% of economic output, Finance Minister Eric Lombard said on Thursday, flagging a shortfall in line with expectations.
The original 2024 budget bill had targeted a deficit of 6.1% and a government spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the state's fiscal shortfall was marginally better than expected.
Prime Minister Francois Bayrou wants to bring the deficit down to 5.4% this year in budget legislation currently in parliament after it spiralled higher last year as tax income fell short of expectations and spending rose faster than expected.