In 2012, the government deficit1 of both the euro area2 (EA17) and the EU282 decreased in absolute terms compared with 2011, while the government debt1 rose in both zones. In the euro area the government deficit to GDP ratio decreased from 4.2% in 20113 to 3.7% in 2012 and in the EU28 from 4.4% to 3.9%. In the euro area the government debt to GDP ratio increased from 87.3% at the end of 2011 to 90.6% at the end of 2012 and in the EU28 from 82.3% to 85.1%. (full story)