expenditures: $109.9 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

44.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 31.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 4.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 96 5% (31 December 2007)

note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.76% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 125 6.52% (31 December 2007)