基礎収支４．５兆円赤字　２５年度、黒字化困難に―政府

　政府は１７日の経済財政諮問会議（議長・石破茂首相）で、財政健全化の指標として重視する国・地方の基礎的財政収支（プライマリーバランス、ＰＢ）が２０２５年度に４兆５０００億円程度の赤字になるとの試算を示した。２４年７月の試算で約８０００億円の黒字を見込んだが、経済対策執行に伴う支出などで修正。目標としていた２５年度の黒字化は困難になった。
　石破首相は会議で、「２００１年度以降で最も赤字幅を縮小させる。早期の黒字化実現に向け、潜在成長力の引き上げに重点を置いた政策運営に取り組む」と強調した。
　ＰＢは、社会保障や公共事業といった政策経費を借金に頼らず税収などでどの程度賄えているかを示す指標。１９９２年度以降赤字が続く。０１年に小泉純一郎政権で黒字化を目標に掲げたが、先送りを繰り返し、２５年度の達成を目指していた。（2025/01/17-19:44）

The Japanese government said Friday that it is expected to miss its goal of achieving a primary budget surplus in fiscal 2025 mainly because of increased spending on economic measures.
   The government said that the country is likely to post a primary budget deficit of some 4.5 trillion yen at the central and local governments combined in the year that starts in April, compared with a surplus of about 800 billion yen estimated in July 2024.
   The primary budget balance is an indicator of how much government spending on policies such as social security and public works is financed by tax and other revenues without relying on debt.
   Japan has been running a primary budget deficit since fiscal 1992. Since 2001 when the government set a goal of achieving a surplus, it has repeatedly pushed back the target date.
   Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told officials that the government will work on policies focusing on boosting the country's growth potential to achieve a primary budget surplus at an early date.