Spain's debt to rise to 90.5% of GDP in 2013

11:18 AM, Sep 29, 2012   |    comments
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Spain also revised its debt ratio forecast for this year to 85.5 percent of GDP, up from 79.8 percent.

Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro said Saturday that Spain's increased interest costs on its public financing are the main cause of the rise: "it is important to reduce this increase and its speed."

Montoro spoke after presenting the 2013 draft budget the government says will cut overall spending by euro40 billion ($51 billion). The budget reduces funds available for unemployment payments by 6.3 percent, and support for Spain's royal house by 4 percent.

Spain is mired in its second recession in recent years with one-in-four workers without a job.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)