According to data by Jordan's finance ministry, the kingdom's gross domestic and foreign debt continued to rise in May with remittances and aid flows still pressured by the global downturn, Reuters has reported. Total debt rose 2.4% to JD9.89bn ($13.9bn) at the end of May compared to the end of last year. The latest preliminary figures show that public debt dropped to 56.2% from 59.4% of projected gross domestic product in 2010, due to forecasts of a lower budget deficit this year. Gross net domestic debt rose to JD6.079bn at the end of May against JD5.791bn dinars at end of 2009, comprising 35.6% of the country's projected 2010 GDP