Brazil central gov't primary surplus falls in Feb

(Reuters) - The primary surplus includes spending by the Treasury, central bank and social security agency but excludes transfers to state and local governments and interest payments on debt. It feeds into the consolidated public sector primary surplus, which also excludes interest payments and is closely tracked by investors as a measure of Brazil's ability to pay its debts.

Finance Minister Guido Mantega said Thursday that the government will maintain its consolidated primary surplus target at 91 billion reais in 2007, but a new methodology for measuring economic activity means the number will represent a smaller percentage of GDP than last year's 4.25 percent target.


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