US budget deficit hits record $3.1tn

Washington, US – The US budget deficit surged 218 per cent to a record US$3.1tn in the fiscal year ended September 30 due to a massive increase in spending to help the economy weather the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced.

That was more than double the previous record deficit of US$1.4tn hit in 2009 during the global financial crisis.

As spending ramped up and tax receipts fell due to the widespread business shutdowns, the Treasury Department said total government US debt soared to US$26.9tn – larger than the size of the economy which shrunk in the second quarter to less than US$20tn. The budget gap under President Donald Trump already had been on the rise prior to the pandemic and hit US$1tn this year for the first time since 2012 following the massive tax cut passed in late 2017.

Administration officials tried to put a positive spin on the figures, crediting Trump with acting quickly to deploy resources to ease the economic damage for American businesses and families.