Jordan's state budget deficit in the first six months of this year dropped by over 30% to JD156m ($219m) from JD560m recorded in the same period of 2009, Jordan Times has reported. Effective austerity measures taken by the government earlier this year contributed to the decline, finance minister Mohammad Abu Hammour told the daily. The government is to continue with these measures adopted in its action plan in order to address the unprecedented JD1.5bn deficit, he added.