Switzerland posted a 2011 budget surplus of 1.9 billion Swiss francs ($2.1 billion) as robust economic growth in the first half of the year boosted government tax income, data showed Wednesday.
The Swiss government had budgeted for a deficit of CHF600 million last year after setting aside around CHF800 million to help offset the effects of the strong Swiss franc on the tourism industry and the labor market, the government said in a statement Wednesday.
"We have a very healthy budget situation," Swiss finance minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said.
The Alpine country's economy was one of the best performing in Europe, with demand for its high quality products, particularly watches and luxury goods, helping to push its unemployment rate to a two-and-a-half year low of 2.8% in July last year.
Still, the government expects Swiss gross domestic product growth to slow to 0.5% this year, from an estimated 1.8% last year.
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