You will have to ask NPR that question. In its news segment at the top of the hour on Morning Edition, the commentator identified a report that Spain's budget is now projected to be in deficit this year as "yet more bad news." If Spain's economy is going into a recession, it would seem like worse news that its budget is not moving toward deficit. The deficit will help to counteract the downturn. Most people would think that this is good news.
--Dean Baker