PARIS (Reuters) - France's social security deficit shrank to its lowest level in 15 years in 2017, reaching 5.1 billion euros ($6.3 billion), slightly better than initially planned, the budget ministry said on Thursday.
The improved deficit figures for the social security accounts come as France is expected to unveil a fall in its overall public sector deficit for 2017 that will put it within limits set by the EU for the first time in a decade.
The public sector deficit - which also includes the central state and local government finances - will be known on March 26 and the government has already said it would be under 3 percent of gross domestic product.
The social security deficit was down from 7.8 billion euros in 2016, the budget ministry said.
($1 = 0.8127 euros)