The government reported a new record in tax collections during the first quarter of the year. Some RD$459.4 million more was collected this January, February and March than during the same months in 1995, according to the monthly publication of the national budget office, the Oficina Nacional de Presupuesto. Government collections for the first three months of the year were RD$5,931 million, up 7.7% for the same months in 1995. The increase is due to import duties and taxes collected by Customs. The amounts collected were: January, RD$663 million; February, RD$687 million; and March, RD$757.8 million. Customs saw an increase of RD$69 million more for the same period. Customs receipts were RD$2,109 million, up from RD$2,049.8 million in 1995, a 2.9% increase.