The international financial crisis is slowly rearing its head in the DR and the private sector is asking government to tighten its belt, but Diario Libre is reporting that despite all the warning signs the government has instead increased its 'official' spending by 31.1% in 2008. As of 21 November, the government had disbursed RD$236.5 billion. Of the total spending RD$73 billion corresponded to expenditures while RD$19 billion were for interest rate payments. Transfers totaled RD$78 billion, which increased by 47% from 2007. Capital spending totaled RD$55 million, according to the Ministry of Hacienda.

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