Fiscal data point to broader funding gap

Policymakers may give local govts 'more flexibility' via PPP programs

China's fresh fiscal data indicated a broader funding gap faced by the government, driving the authorities to explore new channels and maintain a balanced budget, said analysts.

The Chinese government's fiscal deficit, the gap between the government's spending and income, expanded to 579 billion yuan ($86.19 billion) in the first two months, the largest since 2010 compared with the same period each year, showed data from the Ministry of Finance.