By Nektaria Stamouli

ATHENS--Greece registered a primary budget surplus of 4.39 billion euros ($4.69 billion) in 2016, data from the finance ministry showed Tuesday, beating the target by EUR2.4 billion because of lower spending and higher revenues.

The state budget only takes into account central government operations and doesn't include general government accounts, which comprise local government and a portion of military spending in addition to some social-welfare expenditure.

Total revenue for the period from January to October reached EUR53.96 billion, exceeding its target by EUR1.6 billion, the ministry said.

Budget outlays for the same period reached EUR55.15 billion, lower than the target by EUR817 million, it said.

On a monthly basis, Greece's budget revenue reached EUR6.03 billion in December, EUR114 million above target.

Write to Nektaria Stamouli at nektaria.stamouli@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 17, 2017 05:18 ET (10:18 GMT)